5,021 research outputs found
Lyman-tomography of cosmic infrared background fluctuations with Euclid: probing emissions and baryonic acoustic oscillations at z>10
The Euclid space mission, designed to probe evolution of the Dark Energy,
will map a large area of the sky at three adjacent near-IR filters, Y, J and H.
This coverage will also enable mapping source-subtracted cosmic infrared
background (CIB) fluctuations with unprecedented accuracy on sub-degree angular
scales. Here we propose methodology, using the Lyman-break tomography applied
to the Euclid-based CIB maps, to accurately isolate the history of CIB
emissions as a function of redshift from 10 < z < 20, and to identify the
baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs) at those epochs. To identify the BAO
signature, we would assemble individual CIB maps over conservatively large
contiguous areas of >~ 400 sq deg. The method can isolate the CIB spatial
spectrum by z to sub-percent statistical accuracy. We illustrate this with a
specific model of CIB production at high z normalized to reproduce the measured
Spitzer-based CIB fluctuation. We show that even if the latter contain only a
small component from high-z sources, the amplitude of that component can be
accurately isolated with the methodology proposed here and the BAO signatures
at z>~ 10 are recovered well from the CIB fluctuation spatial spectrum. Probing
the BAO at those redshifts will be an important test of the underlying
cosmological paradigm, and would narrow the overall uncertainties on the
evolution of cosmological parameters, including the Dark Energy. Similar
methodology is applicable to the planned WFIRST mission, where we show that a
possible fourth near-IR channel at > 2 micron would be beneficial.Comment: comments welcom
A perturbative approach to the spectral zeta functions of strings, drums and quantum billiards
We have obtained an explicit expression for the spectral zeta functions and
for the heat kernel of strings, drums and quantum billiards working to third
order in perturbation theory, using a generalization of the binomial theorem to
operators. The perturbative parameter used in the expansion is either the small
deformation of a reference domain (for instance a square), or a small variation
of the density around a constant value (in two dimensions both cases can
apply). This expansion is well defined even in presence of degenerations of the
unperturbed spectrum. We have discussed several examples in one, two and three
dimensions, obtaining in some cases the analytic continuation of the series,
which we have then used to evaluate the corresponding Casimir energy. For the
case of a string with piecewise constant density, subject to different boundary
conditions, and of two concentric cylinders of very close radii, we have
reproduced results previously published, thus obtaining a useful check of our
method.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables; version accepted on Journal of
Mathematical Physic
Reconstructing emission from pre-reionization sources with cosmic infrared background fluctuation measurements by the JWST
We present new methodology to use cosmic infrared background (CIB)
fluctuations to probe sources at 10<z<30 from a JWST/NIRCam configuration that
will isolate known galaxies to 28 AB mag at 0.5--5 micron. At present
significant mutually consistent source-subtracted CIB fluctuations have been
identified in the Spitzer and Akari data at 2--5 micron, but we demonstrate
internal inconsistencies at shorter wavelengths in the recent CIBER data. We
evaluate CIB contributions from remaining galaxies and show that the bulk of
the high-z sources will be in the confusion noise of the NIRCam beam, requiring
CIB studies. The accurate measurement of the angular spectrum of the
fluctuations and probing the dependence of its clustering component on the
remaining shot noise power would discriminate between the various currently
proposed models for their origin and probe the flux distribution of its
sources. We show that the contribution to CIB fluctuations from remaining
galaxies is large at visible wavelengths for the current instruments precluding
probing the putative Lyman-break of the CIB fluctuations. We demonstrate that
with the proposed JWST configuration such measurements will enable probing the
Lyman break. We develop a Lyman-break tomography method to use the NIRCam
wavelength coverage to identify or constrain, via the adjacent two-band
subtraction, the history of emissions over 10<z<30 as the Universe comes out of
the 'Dark Ages'. We apply the proposed tomography to the current Spitzer/IRAC
measurements at 3.6 and 4.5 micron, to find that it already leads to
interestingly low upper limit on emissions at z>30.Comment: ApJ, in press. Minor revisions/additions to match the version in
proof
Evaluation of physicochemical and glycaemic properties of commercial plant-based milk substitutes
The market for plant-based dairy-type products is growing as consumers replace bovine milk in their diet, for medical reasons or as a lifestyle choice. A screening of 17 different commercial plant-based milk substitutes based on different cereals, nuts and legumes was performed, including the evaluation of physicochemical and glycaemic properties. Half of the analysed samples had low or no protein contents (<0.5 %). Only samples based on soya showed considerable high protein contents, matching the value of cow’s milk (3.7 %). An in-vitro method was used to predict the glycaemic index. In general, the glycaemic index values ranged from 47 for bovine milk to 64 (almond-based) and up to 100 for rice-based samples. Most of the plant-based milk substitutes were highly unstable with separation rates up to 54.39 %/h. This study demonstrated that nutritional and physicochemical properties of plant-based milk substitutes are strongly dependent on the plant source, processing and fortification. Most products showed low nutritional qualities. Therefore, consumer awareness is important when plant-based milk substitutes are used as an alternative to cow’s milk in the diet
Medical nutrition therapy: use of sourdough lactic acid bacteria as a cell factory for delivering functional biomolecules and food ingredients in gluten free bread
Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease, triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by ingesting gluten from wheat, rye, barley, and other closely related cereal grains. Currently, the estimated prevalence of CD is around 1 % of the population in the western world and medical nutritional therapy (MNT) is the only accepted treatment for celiac disease. To date, the replacement of gluten in bread presents a significant technological challenge for the cereal scientist due to the low baking performance of gluten free products (GF). The increasing demand by the consumer for high quality gluten-free (GF) bread, clean labels and natural products is rising. Sourdough has been used since ancient times for the production of rye and wheat bread, its universal usage can be attributed to the improved quality, nutritional properties and shelf life of sourdough based breads. Consequently, the exploitation of sourdough for the production of GF breads appears tempting. This review will highlight how sourdough LAB can be an efficient cell factory for delivering functional biomolecules and food ingredients to enhance the quality of gluten free bread
Resistant protein. Forms and functions
Several global health risks are related to our dietary lifestyle. As a consequence of the overconsumption of ultra-processed and highly digestible protein (150–200% of the recommended value), excess dietary proteins reach the colon, are hydrolysed to peptides and amino acids by bacterial proteases and fermented to various potentially toxic end products. A diet reformulation strategy with reduced protein content in food products appears to be the most effective approach. A potential approach to this challenge is to reduce food digestibility by introducing resistant protein into the diet that could positively influence human health and gut microbiome functionality. Resistant protein is a dietary constituent not hydrolysed by digestive enzymes or absorbed in the human small intestine. The chemical conformation and the amino acid composition strictly influence its structural stability and resistance to in vivo proteolysis and denaturation. Responding to the important gap in our knowledge regarding the digestibility performance of alternative proteins, we hypothesise that resistant proteins can beneficially alter food functionality via their role in improving metabolic properties and health benefits in human nutrition, similar to fibres and resistant starches. A multidisciplinary investigation of resistant protein will generate tremendous scientific impact for other interlinked societal, economic, technological and health and wellbeing aspects of human life
- …