2,999 research outputs found
New records of ant species from Yunnan, China
published_or_final_versio
Measurements of the UV background at 4.6 < z < 6.4 using the quasar proximity effect
We present measurements of the ionising ultraviolet background (UVB) at z ~
5-6 using the quasar proximity effect. The fifteen quasars in our sample cover
the range 4.6 < z_q < 6.4, enabling the first proximity effect measurements of
the UVB at z > 5. The metagalactic hydrogen ionisation rate, Gamma_bkg, was
determined by modelling the combined ionisation field from the quasar and the
UVB in the proximity zone on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The optical depths in the
spectra were corrected for the expected effect of the quasar until the mean
flux in the proximity region equalled that in the average Ly-alpha forest, and
from this we make a measurement of Gamma_bkg. A number of systematic effects
were tested using synthetic spectra. Noise in the flux was found to be the
largest source of bias at z ~ 5, while uncertainties in the mean transmitted
Ly-alpha flux are responsible for the largest bias at z ~ 6. The impacts of
large-scale overdensities and Lyman limit systems on Gamma_bkg were also
investigated, but found to be small at z > 5. We find a decline in Gamma_bkg
with redshift, from log(Gamma_bkg) = -12.15 0.16 at z ~ 5 to
log(Gamma_bkg) = -12.84 0.18 at z ~ 6 (1 sigma errors). Compared to UVB
measurements at lower redshifts, our measurements suggest a drop of a factor of
five in the HI photoionisation rate between z ~ 4 and z ~ 6. The decline of
Gamma_bkg appears to be gradual, and we find no evidence for a sudden change in
the UVB at any redshift that would indicate a rapid change in the attenuation
length of ionising photons. Combined with recent measurements of the evolution
of the mean free path of ionising photons, our results imply decline in the
emissivity of ionising photons by roughly a factor of two from z ~ 5 to 6,
albeit with significant uncertainty due to the measurement errors in both
Gamma_bkg and the mean free path.Comment: 22 pages, 19 figures, 5 tables; accepted for publication in MNRA
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A randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder in children and adolescents
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for young people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has become the treatment of first choice. However, the literature is largely based on studies emphasising exposure and response prevention. In this study, we report on a randomised controlled trial of CBT for young people carried out in typical outpatient clinic conditions which focused on cognitions. A randomised controlled trial compares 10 sessions of manualised cognitive behavioural treatment with a 12-week waiting list for adolescents and children with OCD. Assessors were blind to treatment allocation. 21 consecutive patients with OCD aged between 9 and 18 years were recruited. The group who received treatment improved more than a comparison group who waited for 3 months. The second group was treated subsequently using the same protocol and made similar gains. In conclusion, CBT can be delivered effectively to young people with OCD in typical outpatient settings
The public health risk posed by Listeria monocytogenes in frozen fruit and vegetables including herbs, blanched during processing
A multi-country outbreak ofListeria monocytogenesST6 linked to blanched frozen vegetables (bfV)took place in the EU (2015–2018). Evidence of food-borne outbreaks shows thatL. monocytogenesisthe most relevant pathogen associated with bfV. The probability of illness per serving of uncooked bfV,for the elderly (65–74 years old) population, is up to 3,600 times greater than cooked bfV and verylikely lower than any of the evaluated ready-to-eat food categories. The main factors affectingcontamination and growth ofL. monocytogenesin bfV during processing are the hygiene of the rawmaterials and process water; the hygienic conditions of the food processing environment (FPE); andthe time/Temperature (t/T) combinations used for storage and processing (e.g. blanching, cooling).Relevant factors after processing are the intrinsic characteristics of the bfV, the t/T combinations usedfor thawing and storage and subsequent cooking conditions, unless eaten uncooked. Analysis of thepossible control options suggests that application of a complete HACCP plan is either not possible orwould not further enhance food safety. Instead, specific prerequisite programmes (PRP) andoperational PRP activities should be applied such as cleaning and disinfection of the FPE, water control,t/T control and product information and consumer awareness. The occurrence of low levels ofL. monocytogenesat the end of the production process (e.g.<10 CFU/g) would be compatible with thelimit of 100 CFU/g at the moment of consumption if any labelling recommendations are strictly followed(i.e. 24 h at 5°C). Under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (i.e. 48 h at 12°C),L. monocytogeneslevels need to be considerably lower (not detected in 25 g). Routine monitoring programmes forL. monocytogenesshould be designed following a risk-based approach and regularly revised based ontrend analysis, being FPE monitoring a key activity in the frozen vegetable industry
Wide-Field Imaging and Polarimetry for the Biggest and Brightest in the 20GHz Southern Sky
We present wide-field imaging and polarimetry at 20GHz of seven of the most
extended, bright (Stot >= 0.50 Jy), high-frequency selected radio sources in
the southern sky with declinations < -30 deg. Accompanying the data are brief
reviews of the literature for each source, The results presented here aid in
the statistical completeness of the Australia Telescope 20GHz Survey's bright
source sample. The data are of crucial interest for future cosmic microwave
background missions as a collection of information about candidate calibrator
sources. We are able to obtain data for seven of the nine sources identified by
our selection criteria. We report that Pictor A is thus far the best
extragalactic calibrator candidate for the Low Frequency Instrument of the
Planck European Space Agency mission due to its high level of integrated
polarized flux density (0.50+/-0.06 Jy) on a scale of 10 arcmin. Six of the
seven sources have a clearly detected compact radio core, with either a null or
less than two percent detection of polarized emission from the nucleus. Most
sources with detected jets have magnetic field alignments running in a
longitudinal configuration, however PKS1333-33 exhibits transverse fields and
an orthogonal change in field geometry from nucleus to jets.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 2 table
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Reflective Journaling: A Theoretical Model and Digital Prototype for Developing Resilience and Creativity
Reflection is commonly discussed as a tool for personal and professional development that is becoming increasingly important in today’s global and digital world. In this paper, we propose a model that suggests ways in which reflection, in the form of Reflective Journaling, can support the development of creativity and resilience, which are needed to enable individuals to function effectively in a fast-changing environment. In addition, the model proposes ways in which external support and progress monitoring can be used in conjunction with skills in adaptive resilience and structured creativity, to support the maintenance of reflective journaling as a habit, in the longer term, thus creating virtuous cycles of skills and behaviours that can reinforce each other. Based on our model, and additional user research, we describe the design of a first digital prototype that aims to support the use of Reflective Journaling and to develop creativity and resilience through suggested mechanisms. Initial evaluations of our prototype are positive. It has been well-received by early test users, and has the potential to address all the connections defined. We therefore suggest that the theoretical model can be used to develop digital tools, such as the one included, to help those who wish to develop the habit of reflective journaling, and through that a range of other skills associated with resilience and creative thinking. We see this as a starting point for investigating this potential in more depth
EHMTI-0026. Neuroprolotherapy and acupuncture for clinical trial of acute and chronic migraine treatment
Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) are Ca2+-mobilizing messengers important for modulating cardiac excitation–contraction coupling and pathophysiology. CD38, which belongs to the ADP-ribosyl cyclase family, catalyzes synthesis of both NAADP and cADPR in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether this is the main enzyme for their production under physiological conditions. Here we show that membrane fractions from WT but not CD38−/− mouse hearts supported NAADP and cADPR synthesis. Membrane permeabilization of cardiac myocytes with saponin and/or Triton X-100 increased NAADP synthesis, indicating that intracellular CD38 contributes to NAADP production. The permeabilization also permitted immunostaining of CD38, with a striated pattern in WT myocytes, whereas CD38−/− myocytes and nonpermeabilized WT myocytes showed little or no staining, without striation. A component of β-adrenoreceptor signaling in the heart involves NAADP and lysosomes. Accordingly, in the presence of isoproterenol, Ca2+ transients and contraction amplitudes were smaller in CD38−/− myocytes than in the WT. In addition, suppressing lysosomal function with bafilomycin A1 reduced the isoproterenol-induced increase in Ca2+ transients in cardiac myocytes from WT but not CD38−/− mice. Whole hearts isolated from CD38−/− mice and exposed to isoproterenol showed reduced arrhythmias. SAN4825, an ADP-ribosyl cyclase inhibitor that reduces cADPR and NAADP synthesis in mouse membrane fractions, was shown to bind to CD38 in docking simulations and reduced the isoproterenol-induced arrhythmias in WT hearts. These observations support generation of NAADP and cADPR by intracellular CD38, which contributes to effects of β-adrenoreceptor stimulation to increase both Ca2+ transients and the tendency to disturb heart rhythm
Electron-Phonon interaction and electronic decoherence in molecular conductors
We perform a brief but critical review of the Landauer picture of transport
that clarifies how decoherence appears in this approach. On this basis, we
present different models that allow the study of the coherent and decoherent
effects of the interaction with the environment in the electronic transport.
These models are particularly well suited for the analysis of transport in
molecular wires. The effects of decoherence are described through the
D'Amato-Pastawski model that is explained in detail. We also consider the
formation of polarons in some models for the electron-vibrational interaction.
Our quantum coherent framework allows us to study many-body interference
effects. Particular emphasis is given to the occurrence of anti-resonances as a
result of these interferences. By studying the phase fluctuations in these
soluble models we are able to identify inelastic and decoherence effects. A
brief description of a general formulation for the consideration of
time-dependent transport is also presented.Comment: 32 pages, 11 eps figures. To appear in Chemical Physics (Special
Molecular Electronics Number
The clustering of massive galaxies at z~0.5 from the first semester of BOSS data
We calculate the real- and redshift-space clustering of massive galaxies at
z~0.5 using the first semester of data by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic
Survey (BOSS). We study the correlation functions of a sample of 44,000 massive
galaxies in the redshift range 0.4<z<0.7. We present a halo-occupation
distribution modeling of the clustering results and discuss the implications
for the manner in which massive galaxies at z~0.5 occupy dark matter halos. The
majority of our galaxies are central galaxies living in halos of mass
10^{13}Msun/h, but 10% are satellites living in halos 10 times more massive.
These results are broadly in agreement with earlier investigations of massive
galaxies at z~0.5. The inferred large-scale bias (b~2) and relatively high
number density (nbar=3e-4 h^3 Mpc^{-3}) imply that BOSS galaxies are excellent
tracers of large-scale structure, suggesting BOSS will enable a wide range of
investigations on the distance scale, the growth of large-scale structure,
massive galaxy evolution and other topics.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, matches version accepted by Ap
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