379 research outputs found
Individual and collective stock dynamics: intra-day seasonalities
We establish several new stylised facts concerning the intra-day
seasonalities of stock dynamics. Beyond the well known U-shaped pattern of the
volatility, we find that the average correlation between stocks increases
throughout the day, leading to a smaller relative dispersion between stocks.
Somewhat paradoxically, the kurtosis (a measure of volatility surprises)
reaches a minimum at the open of the market, when the volatility is at its
peak. We confirm that the dispersion kurtosis is a markedly decreasing function
of the index return. This means that during large market swings, the
idiosyncratic component of the stock dynamics becomes sub-dominant. In a
nutshell, early hours of trading are dominated by idiosyncratic or sector
specific effects with little surprises, whereas the influence of the market
factor increases throughout the day, and surprises become more frequent.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
The Ly-alpha profile and center-to-limb variation of the quiet Sun
We study the emission of the hydrogen Lyman-a line in the quiet Sun, its
center-to-limb variation (CLV), and its radiance distribution. We also compare
quasi-simultaneous Ly-a and Ly-b line profiles. We used the high spectral and
spatial resolution of the SUMER spectrometer and completed raster scans at
various locations along the disk. For the first time, we used a method to
reduce the incoming photon flux to a 20%-level by partly closing the aperture
door. We also performed a quasi-simultaneous observation of both Ly-a and Ly-b
at Sun center in sit-and-stare mode. We infer the flow characteristic in the
Ly-a map from variations in the calibrated 1206 Si III line centroids. We
present the average profile of Ly-a, its radiance distribution, its CLV
behaviour, and the signature of flows on the line profiles. Little CLV and no
limb brightening are observed in the profiles of the Ly-a line. In contrast to
all other lines of the Lyman series, which have a stronger red-horn, Ly-a has a
dominating blue-horn asymmetry. There appears to be a brightness-to-asymmetry
relationship. A similar and even clearer trend is observed in the
downflow-to-asymmetry relationship. This important result is consistent with
predictions from models that include flows. However, the absence of a clear CLV
in the profiles may be more indicative of an isotropic field than a radial
flow. It appears that the ubiquitous hydrogen behaves similar to a filter that
dampens all signatures of the line formation by processes in the chromosphere
and transition region.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Crystallographic Phase Transition and High-Tc Superconductivity in LaFeAsO:F
Undoped LaFeAsO, parent compound of the newly found high-Tc superconductor,
exhibits a sharp decrease in the temperature-dependent resistivity at ~160 K.
The anomaly can be suppressed by F doping and the superconductivity appears
correspondingly, suggesting a close associate of the anomaly with the
superconductivity. We examined the crystal structures, magnetic properties and
superconductivity of undoped (normal conductor) and 14 at.% F-doped LaFeAsO (Tc
= 20 K) by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, DC magnetic measurements, and ab
initio calculations to demonstrate that the anomaly is associated with a phase
transition from tetragonal (P4/nmm) to orthorhombic (Cmma) phases at ~160 K as
well as an antiferromagnetic transition at ~140 K. These transitions can be
explained by spin configuration-dependent potential energy surfaces derived
from the ab initio calculations. The suppression of the transitions is ascribed
to interrelated effects of geometric and electronic structural changes due to
doping by F- ions.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, Supplementary information is included
at the end of the document, accepted for publication in Supercond. Sci.
Techno
The Structure and Dynamics of the Upper Chromosphere and Lower Transition Region as Revealed by the Subarcsecond VAULT Observations
The Very high Angular resolution ULtraviolet Telescope (VAULT) is a sounding
rocket payload built to study the crucial interface between the solar
chromosphere and the corona by observing the strongest line in the solar
spectrum, the Ly-a line at 1216 {\AA}. In two flights, VAULT succeeded in
obtaining the first ever sub-arcsecond (0.5") images of this region with high
sensitivity and cadence. Detailed analyses of those observations have
contributed significantly to new ideas about the nature of the transition
region. Here, we present a broad overview of the Ly-a atmosphere as revealed by
the VAULT observations, and bring together past results and new analyses from
the second VAULT flight to create a synthesis of our current knowledge of the
high-resolution Ly-a Sun. We hope that this work will serve as a good reference
for the design of upcoming Ly-a telescopes and observing plans.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figure
Fundamental movement skills and accelerometer-measured physical activity levels during early childhood: a systematic review
Early childhood is a key period for children to begin developing and practicing fundamental movement skills (FMS), while aiming to perform sufficient physical activity (PA). This study reviews the current evidence for the levels of achievement in FMS and PA measured using accelerometers among 4–5-year-old children and examines differences by gender. This review was conducted using the PRISMA framework. Keyword searches were conducted in Pubmed, Medline, Google Scholar and SPORTDiscus. Inclusion criteria included age: 4–5 years old; FMS measurement: Test of Gross Motor Development 2 and 3; PA measurement: objective methods; balance measurement: static single limb; study design: cross-sectional observational/descriptive, randomised control trials, intervention studies; language: English. Twenty-eight articles from twenty-one countries met the inclusion criteria and were split into either FMS and PA articles (n = 10) or balance articles (n = 18). Three articles showed children achieving 60 min of moderate to vigorous PA per day, two articles demonstrated significant differences between girls’ and boys’ performance of locomotor skills and five reported locomotor skills to be more proficient than object control skills at this age for both genders. Balance was measured in time (n = 12), points score (n = 3) or biomechanical variables (n = 3), displaying heterogeneity of not only measurement but also outcomes within these data, with static single limb balance held between 6.67 to 87.6 s within the articles. Four articles reported girls to have better balance than boys. There is little conclusive evidence of the current levels for FMS, PA and balance achievement in young children 4–5 years of age. The academic literature consistently reports low levels of FMS competence and mixed evidence for PA levels. Inconsistencies lie in balance measurement methodology, with broad-ranging outcomes of both low and high achievement at 4–5 years old. Further research is required to focus on increasing practice opportunities for children to improve their FMS, increase PA levels and establish sufficient balance ability. Consistent and comparable outcomes during early childhood through more homogenous methodologies are warranted.N/
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Protects Striatal Neurons against Excitotoxicity by Enhancing Glial Glutamate Uptake
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent neuroprotective cytokine in different animal models of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, although its action mechanisms are still poorly characterized. We tested the hypothesis that an increased function of glial glutamate transporters (GTs) could underlie CNTF-mediated neuroprotection. We show that neuronal loss induced by in vivo striatal injection of the excitotoxin quinolinic acid (QA) was significantly reduced (by ∼75%) in CNTF-treated animals. In striatal slices, acute QA application dramatically inhibited corticostriatal field potentials (FPs), whose recovery was significantly higher in CNTF rats compared to controls (∼40% vs. ∼7%), confirming an enhanced resistance to excitotoxicity. The GT inhibitor dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate greatly reduced FP recovery in CNTF rats, supporting the role of GT in CNTF-mediated neuroprotection. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from striatal medium spiny neurons showed no alteration of basic properties of striatal glutamatergic transmission in CNTF animals, but the increased effect of a low-affinity competitive glutamate receptor antagonist (γ-d-glutamylglycine) also suggested an enhanced GT function. These data strongly support our hypothesis that CNTF is neuroprotective via an increased function of glial GTs, and further confirms the therapeutic potential of CNTF for the clinical treatment of progressive neurodegenerative diseases involving glutamate overflow
Far‐UV emissions from the SL9 impacts with Jupiter
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95348/1/grl8617.pd
- …