515,915 research outputs found
Peculiar Velocity Reconstruction with Fast Action Method: Tests on Mock Redshift Surveys
We present extensive tests of the Fast Action Method (FAM) for recovering the
past orbits of mass tracers in an expanding universe from their redshift-space
coordinates at the present epoch. The tests focus on the reconstruction of
present-day peculiar velocities using mock catalogs extracted from high
resolution -body simulations. The method allows for a self-consistent
treatment of redshift-space distortions by direct minimization of a modified
action for a cosmological gravitating system. When applied to ideal, volume
limited catalogs, FAM recovers unbiased peculiar velocities with a 1-D, 1\sigma
error of ~220 km/s, if velocities are smoothed on a scale of 5 Mpc/h.
Alternatively, when no smoothing is applied, FAM predicts nearly unbiased
velocities for objects residing outside the highest density regions. In this
second case the 1\sigma$error decreases to a level of ~150 km/s. The
correlation properties of the peculiar velocity fields are also correctly
recovered on scales larger than 5 Mpc/h. Similar results are obtained when FAM
is applied to flux limited catalogs mimicking the IRAS PSCz survey. In this
case FAM reconstructs peculiar velocities with similar intrinsic random errors,
while velocity-velocity correlation properties are well reproduced beyond
scales of ~8 Mpc/h. We also show that FAM provides better velocity predictions
than other, competing methods based on linear theory or Zel'dovich
approximation. These results indicate that FAM can be successfully applied to
presently available galaxy redshift surveys such as IRAS PSCz.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figures. Figures 1,2,3,4,5,7,11,12 and 16 are also
included as separate gif files. Added 2 new sections(5.3 and 6.3) and figures
(11 and 16). More discussion added to section 7 (Summary and Conclusions).
MNRAS accepte
A COMPARISON OF SELECTED MILK INDICATORS IN ORGANIC HERDS WITH CONVENTIONAL HERD AS REFERENCE
In a historical sense, current organic farming is an old-new
alternative under changed world conditions. Organic dairying
(O) is an alternative of friendly use of the environment in
time of presupposed global climate changes. Potential impact
of organic farming on raw cow-milk quality, composition and
properties, as conpared to conventional milk production (C),
were evaluatedin this paper on the basis of selectedm ilk indicators
(MIs). Total solids, whey volume, pH of milk fermentation
ability (FAM-pH), FAM streptococci, FAM noble lactic acid
bacteria, I and Cu were higher in C milk (P0.05) were observed in pH, rennet coagulation time, curd quality, FAM lactobacilli and streptococci/lactobacilli, Na, Mn and Zn. In general, the differences were a little more advantageous for O milk from both technological and nutritional point of view, particularly because of AS (0.461 .81m m), FAM-T (27.3 4.6 ) , Ca (1172 < l257 mg.kg-1)P, ( 950 < l004 mg. kg-1) and Mg 107.4<ll2.0mg.kg{) results. Organic milk can also produce better environment for yoghurt fermentation. Nevertheless, the results obtained should not be overestimated as both sources produced milk of good quality. Additional results are
needed to prove organic milk benefits
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Nerve-targeted probes for fluorescence-guided intraoperative imaging.
A fundamental goal of many surgeries is nerve preservation, as inadvertent injury can lead to patient morbidity including numbness, pain, localized paralysis and incontinence. Nerve identification during surgery relies on multiple parameters including anatomy, texture, color and relationship to surrounding structures using white light illumination. We propose that fluorescent labeling of nerves can enhance the contrast between nerves and adjacent tissue during surgery which may lead to improved outcomes. Methods: Nerve binding peptide sequences including HNP401 were identified by phage display using selective binding to dissected nerve tissue. Peptide dye conjugates including FAM-HNP401 and structural variants were synthesized and screened for nerve binding after topical application on fresh rodent and human tissue and in-vivo after systemic IV administration into both mice and rats. Nerve to muscle contrast was quantified by measuring fluorescent intensity after topical or systemic administration of peptide dye conjugate. Results: Peptide dye conjugate FAM-HNP401 showed selective binding to human sural nerve with 10.9x fluorescence signal intensity (1374.44 ± 425.96) compared to a previously identified peptide FAM-NP41 (126.17 ± 61.03). FAM-HNP401 showed nerve-to-muscle contrast of 3.03 ± 0.57. FAM-HNP401 binds and highlight multiple human peripheral nerves including lower leg sural, upper arm medial antebrachial as well as autonomic nerves isolated from human prostate. Conclusion: Phage display has identified a novel peptide that selectively binds to ex-vivo human nerves and in-vivo using rodent models. FAM-HNP401 or an optimized variant could be translated for use in a clinical setting for intraoperative identification of human nerves to improve visualization and potentially decrease the incidence of intra-surgical nerve injury
Use of Ovulation Predictor Kits as Adjuncts When Using Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs): A Pilot Study
Purpose: Difficult clinical signs such as confusing cervical mucus or erratic basal body temperature can make the use of fertility awareness methods (FAMs) difficult in some cases. The goal of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a cheap urinary luteinizing hormone (LH)–surge identification kit as an adjunct to identify the infertile phase after ovulation when facing these scenarios. Methods: The study used a block-allocation, crossover, 2-arm methodology (LH kit/FAM vs FAM only). Comparison of the 2 arms was done with regard to the accuracy of identification (yes/no) of the luteal phase in each cycle as confirmed by serum progesterone concentrations. Results: We recruited 23 Canadian women currently using FAM, aged 18 to 48 years, who have had menstrual cycles 25 to 35 days long for the past 3 months and perceive themselves to have difficulty with identifying the infertile phase after ovulation. LH kits identified 100% of the luteal phases, whereas FAM indentified 87% (statistically significant). In those identified cycles, LH kits provided a mean of 10.3 days of infertility, and FAM only provided 10 days of infertility (not statistically significant). Conclusions: Among this population, LH kits may offer an adjunct for women who may wish to have an additional double-check. However, there are still clinical circumstances when even an LH kit does not provide confirmation. More research in this area is encouraged
Feasibility of the finite amplitude method in covariant density functional theory
Self-consistent relativistic random-phase approximation (RPA) in the radial
coordinate representation is established by using the finite amplitude method
(FAM). Taking the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in spherical nuclei as
example, the feasibility of the FAM for the covariant density functionals is
demonstrated, and the newly developed methods are verified by the conventional
RPA calculations. In the present relativistic RPA calculations, the effects of
the Dirac sea can be automatically taken into account in the coordinate-space
representation. The rearrangement terms due to the density-dependent couplings
can be implicitly calculated without extra computational costs in both
iterative and matrix FAM schemes.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Multipole strength function of deformed superfluid nuclei made easy
We present an efficient method for calculating strength functions using the
finite amplitude method (FAM) for deformed superfluid heavy nuclei within the
framework of the nuclear density functional theory. We demonstrate that FAM
reproduces strength functions obtained with the fully self-consistent
quasi-particle random-phase approximation (QRPA) at a fraction of computational
cost. As a demonstration, we compute the isoscalar and isovector monopole
strength for strongly deformed configurations in Pu by considering huge
quasi-particle QRPA spaces. Our approach to FAM, based on Broyden's iterative
procedure, opens the possibility for large-scale calculations of strength
distributions in well-bound and weakly bound nuclei across the nuclear
landscape.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Low energy collective modes of deformed superfluid nuclei within the finite amplitude method
Background: The major challenge for nuclear theory is to describe and predict
global properties and collective modes of atomic nuclei. Of particular interest
is the response of the nucleus to a time-dependent external field that impacts
the low-energy multipole and beta-decay strength.
Purpose: We propose a method to compute low-lying collective modes in
deformed nuclei within the finite amplitude method (FAM) based on the
quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA). By using the analytic property
of the response function, we find the QRPA amplitudes by computing the residua
of the FAM amplitudes by means of a contour integration around the QRPA poles
in a complex frequency plane.
Methods: We use the superfluid nuclear density functional theory with Skyrme
energy density functionals, FAM-QRPA approach, and the conventional matrix
formulation of the QRPA (MQRPA).
Results: We demonstrate that the complex-energy FAM-QRPA method reproduces
low-lying collective states obtained within the conventional matrix formulation
of the QRPA theory. Illustrative calculations are performed for the isoscalar
monopole strength in deformed 24Mg and for low-lying K = 0 quadrupole
vibrational modes of deformed Yb and Er isotopes.
Conclusions: The proposed FAM-QRPA approach allows one to efficiently
calculate low-lying collective modes in spherical and deformed nuclei
throughout the entire nuclear landscape, including shape-vibrational
excitations, pairing vibrational modes, and beta-decay rates.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Araneae (I.)
The present paper contains an account of that portion of the Araneae collected by Dr. Lt SCHULTZE in South Africa, which falls into the families given in the following list, the numbers in the list being the total number of examples collected of each family and the number of species identified or described in this paper: Fam. Aviculariidae 66 examples 11 species (10 new) Fam. Dictynidae 14 examples 3 species (1 new) Fam. Eresidae 1057 examples 10 species ( 6 new) Fam. Sicariidae 46 examples 7 species ( 4 new) Fam. Dysdeddae 144 examples 6 species ( 4 new) Fam. Caponiidae 26 examples 1 species Fam. Prodidomidae 1 example 1 species Fam. Drassidae 557 examples 27 species (21 new) Totals: 1911 examples 66 species (46 new) Dr. SCHULTZE is to be congratulated on the large number of specimens obtained by him. The most extensive collections were made in Little Namaqualand, but a considerable number of specimens were also obtained in Great Namaqualand (including Possession Island) and in the Kalahari (in the Bechuanaland Protectorate), while a small number came from Southern Hereroland (S. Damaraland) and from the Cape Peninsula. With the exception of the last, all these localities represent practically new fields for the collector of Aranee, for, so far as I am aware, no extensive collections have ever been made in any of them before, and only a. few odd species have been recorded from time to time. Accordingly more than two-thirds of the total number of species described or identified in this paper are new to science, although the genera to which they belong are in all cases identical with those of the other and better known dry portions of the interior of Cape Colony. If the gregarious Eresidae (StegodyphuS) be excluded from the above list, it will be seen that the Drassidae are by far the most numerous both in individuals and species, being followed in number by the non-gregarious Eresidae and the Dysderidae. But it must be borne in mind that the underground Aviculariidae, particularly the Trap-door forms, were probably not collected as thoroughly as the other spiders, owing to the extreme difficulty generally experienced in discovering their retreats. Nevertheless Dr. SCHULTZE obtained at least 7 species, which may with confidence be placed among the trap-door building forms, belonging to the genera ldiops, Stasimopus, Pelmatorycter and Ancylotrypa. The two largest spiders obtained were a large Harpactira from Great and Little Namaqualand, and a new Ceratogyrus from the Kalahari, the latter having a peculiar horn in the middle of the cephalothorax above
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