26,043 research outputs found
The 4 Year COBE DMR data is non-Gaussian
I review our recent claim that there is evidence of non-Gaussianity in the 4
Year COBE DMR data. I describe the statistic we apply, the result we obtain and
make a detailed list of the systematics we have analysed. I finish with a
qualitative understanding of what it might be and its implications.Comment: Proceedings of Rome 3K conference, 5 pages, 3 figure
A Bayesian estimate of the skewness of the Cosmic Microwave Background
We propose a formalism for estimating the skewness and angular power spectrum
of a general Cosmic Microwave Background data set. We use the Edgeworth
Expansion to define a non-Gaussian likelihood function that takes into account
the anisotropic nature of the noise and the incompleteness of the sky coverage.
The formalism is then applied to estimate the skewness of the publicly
available 4 year Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) Differential Microwave
Radiometer data. We find that the data is consistent with a Gaussian skewness,
and with isotropy. Inclusion of non Gaussian degrees of freedom has essentially
no effect on estimates of the power spectrum, if each is regarded as a
separate parameter or if the angular power spectrum is parametrized in terms of
an amplitude (Q) and spectral index (n). Fixing the value of the angular power
spectrum at its maxiumum likelihood estimate, the best fit skewness is
S=6.5\pm6.0\times10^4(\muK)^3; marginalizing over Q the estimate of the
skewness is S=6.5\pm8.4\times10^4(\muK)^3 and marginalizing over n one has
S=6.5\pm8.5\times10^4(\muK)^3.Comment: submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letter
Hysteresis and re-entrant melting of a self-organized system of classical particles confined in a parabolic trap
A self-organized system composed of classical particles confined in a
two-dimensional parabolic trap and interacting through a potential with a
short-range attractive part and long-range repulsive part is studied as
function of temperature. The influence of the competition between the
short-range attractive part of the inter-particle potential and its long-range
repulsive part on the melting temperature is studied. Different behaviors of
the melting temperature are found depending on the screening length ()
and the strength () of the attractive part of the inter-particle potential.
A re-entrant behavior and a thermal induced phase transition is observed in a
small region of ()-space. A structural hysteresis effect is observed
as a function of temperature and physically understood as due to the presence
of a potential barrier between different configurations of the system.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Evolution of Universe to the present inert phase
We assume that current state of the Universe can be described by the Inert
Doublet Model, containing two scalar doublets, one of which is responsible for
EWSB and masses of particles and the second one having no couplings to fermions
and being responsible for dark matter. We consider possible evolutions of the
Universe to this state during cooling down of the Universe after inflation. We
found that in the past Universe could pass through phase states having no DM
candidate. In the evolution via such states in addition to a possible EWSB
phase transition (2-nd order) the Universe sustained one 1-st order phase
transition or two phase transitions of the 2-nd order.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure
Molecular and immunological characterization of profilin from mugwort pollen
In late summer in Europe, pollen of mugwort is one of the major sources of atopic allergens. No information about the complete molecular structure of any mugwort allergen has been published so far. Here we report the isolation and characterization of mugwort pollen cDNA clones coding for two isoforms of the panallergen profilin. Thirtysix percent of the mugwort allergic patients tested displayed IgE antibodies against natural and recombinant profilin, and no significant differences were observed in the IgEbinding properties of the isoforms. One profilin isoform was purified to homogeneity and detailed structural analysis indicated that the protein exists in solution as dimers and tetramers stabilized by sulfydryl and/or ionic interactions. Profilin monomers were detectable only after exposure of multimers to harsh denaturing conditions. Dimers and tetramers did not significantly differ in their ability to bind serum IgE from mugwort pollenallergic patients. However, oligomeric forms might have a higher allergenic potential than monomers because larger molecules would have additional epitopes for IgEmediated histamine release. Profilin isolated from mugwort pollen also formed multimers. Thus, oligomerization is not an artifact resulting from the recombinant production of the allergen. Inhibition experiments showed extensive IgE crossreactivity of recombinant mugwort profilin and profilin from various pollen and food extracts
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