Constraints on Galaxy Bias, Matter Density, and Primordial Non--Gausianity from the PSCz Galaxy Redshift Survey

We compute the bispectrum for the \IRAS PSCz catalog and find that the galaxy distribution displays the characteristic signature of gravity. Assuming Gaussian initial conditions, we obtain galaxy biasing parameters $1/b_1=1.20^{+0.18}_{-0.19}$ and $b_2/b_1^2=-0.42\pm0.19$, with no sign of scale-dependent bias for $k\leq 0.3$ h/Mpc. These results impose stringent constraints on non-Gaussian initial conditions. For dimensional scaling models with $\chi^2_N$ statistics, we find N>49, which implies a constraint on primordial skewness $B_3<0.35$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 embedded figures, uses revtex style file, minor changes to reflect published versio

Cloud Chamber: A Performance with Real Time Two-Way Interaction between Subatomic Particles and Violinist

‘Cloud Chamber’ - a composition by Alexis Kirke, Antonino Chiaramonte, and Anna Troisi - is a live performance in which the invisible quantum world becomes visible as a violinist and subatomic particle tracks interact together. An electronic instrument was developed which can be “played” live by radioactive atomic particles. Electronic circuitry was developed enabling a violin to create a physical force field that directly affects the ions generated by cosmic radiation particles. This enabled the violinist and the ions to influence each other musically in real time. A glass cloud chamber was used onstage to make radioactivity visible in bright white tracks moving within, with the tracks projected onto a large screen

Near-IR photodissociation of peroxy acetyl nitrate

Measurements of the C-H overtone transition strengths combined with estimates of the photodissociation cross sections for these transitions suggest that near-IR photodissociation of peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) is less significant (Jnear−IR ~3×10^−8 s^−1 at noon) in the lower atmosphere than competing sinks resulting from unimolecular decomposition and ultraviolet photolysis. This is in contrast to the photochemical behavior of a related peroxy nitrate, pernitric acid (PNA), that undergoes rapid near-IR photolysis in the atmosphere with Jnear−IR ~10^−5 s^−1 at noon (Roehl et al., 2002). This difference is attributed to the larger binding energy and larger number of vibrational degrees of 10 freedom in PAN, which make 4[Greek nu]CH the lowest overtone excitation with a high photodissociation yield (as opposed to 2[Greek nu]OH in PNA)

A systematic review and economic evaluation of subcutaneous and sublingual allergen immunotherapy in adults and children with seasonal allergic rhinitis

© Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO 2013Severe allergic rhinitis uncontrolled by conventional medication can substantially affect quality of life. Immunotherapy involves administering increasing doses of a specific allergen, with the aim of reducing sensitivity and symptomatic reactions. Recent meta-analyses have concluded that both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms. It is uncertain which route of administration is more effective and whether or not treatment is cost-effective.National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programm

Cross-Correlation of the Cosmic Microwave Background with Radio Sources: Constraints on an Accelerating Universe

We present a new limit on the cosmological constant based on the absence of correlations between the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the distribution of distant radio sources. In the cosmological constant-cold dark matter models currently favored, such correlations should have been produced via the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, assuming that radio sources trace the local (z=1) matter density. We find no evidence of correlations between the COBE 53Hz microwave map and the NVSS 1.4 GHz radio survey. The implied 95% CL limit on the cosmological constant is Lambda < 0.74, in marginal agreement with the values suggested by recent measurements of the CMB anisotropy and type-IA supernovae observations, 0.6 < Lambda < 0.7. If the cosmological model does lie in this range, then the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect should be detectable with upcoming CMB maps and radio surveys.Comment: 5 pages; 3 figures; submitted to PR

Large-scale structure and the redshift-distance relation

In efforts to demonstrate the linear Hubble law v = Hr from galaxy observations, the underlying simplicity is often obscured by complexities arising from magnitude-limited data. In this paper we point out a simple but previously unremarked fact: that the shapes and orientations of structures in redshift space contain in themselves independent information about the cosmological redshift-distance relation. The orientations of voids in the CfA slice support the Hubble law, giving a redshift-distance power index p = 0.83 +/- 0.36 (void data from Slezak, de Lapparent, & Bijoui 1993) or p = 0.99 +/- 0.38 (void data from Malik & Subramanian 1997).Comment: 11 pages (AASTeX), 4 figures, to appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Particle-Antiparticle Asymmetry Due to Non-Renormalizable Effective Interactions

We consider a model for generating a particle-antiparticle asymmetry through out-of-equilibrium decays of a massive particle due to non-renormalizable, effective interactions.Comment: preliminary version, 38 pages; LaTeX source, epsf.sty and EPS files included in tar archiv

Advanced study of coastal zone oceanographic requirements for ERTS E and F

Earth Resources Technology Satellites E and F orbits and remote sensor instruments for coastal oceanographic data collectio