The Mass Function of Dark Halos in Superclusters and Voids

A modification of the Press-Schechter theory allowing for presence of a background large-scale structure (LSS) - a supercluster or a void, is proposed. The LSS is accounted as the statistical constraints in form of linear functionals of the random overdensity field. The deviation of the background density within the LSS is interpreted in a pseudo-cosmological sense. Using the constraints formalism may help us to probe non-trivial spatial statistics of haloes, e.g. edge and shape effects on boundaries of the superclusters and voids. Parameters of the constraints are connected to features of the LSS: its mean overdensity, a spatial scale and a shape, and spatial momenta of higher orders. It is shown that presence of a non-virialized LSS can lead to an observable deviation of the mass function. This effect is exploited to build a procedure to recover parameters of the background perturbation from the observationally estimated mass function.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures; to be appeared in Astronomy Reports, 2014, Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 386-39

Development of a Flame Resistant Silicone Rubber

Flame resistant silicone rubber using aluminum silicates and aromatic bromide

The Coarse Geometry of Merger Trees in \Lambda CDM

We introduce the contour process to describe the geometrical properties of merger trees. The contour process produces a one-dimensional object, the contour walk, which is a translation of the merger tree. We portray the contour walk through its length and action. The length is proportional to to the number of progenitors in the tree, and the action can be interpreted as a proxy of the mean length of a branch in a merger tree. We obtain the contour walk for merger trees extracted from the public database of the Millennium Run and also for merger trees constructed with a public Monte-Carlo code which implements a Markovian algorithm. The trees correspond to halos of final masses between 10^{11} h^{-1} M_sol and 10^{14} h^{-1} M_sol. We study how the length and action of the walks evolve with the mass of the final halo. In all the cases, except for the action measured from Markovian trees, we find a transitional scale around 3 \times 10^{12} h^{-1} M_sol. As a general trend the length and action measured from the Markovian trees show a large scatter in comparison with the case of the Millennium Run trees.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to MNRA

Authorization and access control of application data in Workflow systems

Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs) are used to support the modeling and coordinated execution of business processes within an organization or across organizational boundaries. Although some research efforts have addressed requirements for authorization and access control for workflow systems, little attention has been paid to the requirements as they apply to application data accessed or managed by WfMSs. In this paper, we discuss key access control requirements for application data in workflow applications using examples from the healthcare domain, introduce a classification of application data used in workflow systems by analyzing their sources, and then propose a comprehensive data authorization and access control mechanism for WfMSs. This involves four aspects: role, task, process instance-based user group, and data content. For implementation, a predicate-based access control method is used. We believe that the proposed model is applicable to workflow applications and WfMSs with diverse access control requirements

Nonlinear Gravitational Clustering: dreams of a paradigm

We discuss the late time evolution of the gravitational clustering in an expanding universe, based on the nonlinear scaling relations (NSR) which connect the nonlinear and linear two point correlation functions. The existence of critical indices for the NSR suggests that the evolution may proceed towards a universal profile which does not change its shape at late times. We begin by clarifying the relation between the density profiles of the individual halo and the slope of the correlation function and discuss the conditions under which the slopes of the correlation function at the extreme nonlinear end can be independent of the initial power spectrum. If the evolution should lead to a profile which preserves the shape at late times, then the correlation function should grow as $a^2$ [in a $\Omega=1$ universe] een at nonlinear scales. We prove that such exact solutions do not exist; however, ther e exists a class of solutions (``psuedo-linear profiles'', PLP's for short) which evolve as $a^2$ to a good approximation. It turns out that the PLP's are the correlation functions which arise if the individual halos are assumed to be isothermal spheres. They are also configurations of mass in which the nonlinear effects of gravitational clustering is a minimum and hence can act as building blocks of the nonlinear universe. We discuss the implicatios of this result.Comment: 32 Pages, Submitted to Ap

Reconstructing the Stellar Mass Distributions of Galaxies Using S4G IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 μm Images. I. Correcting for Contamination by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Hot Dust, and Intermediate-age Stars

With the aim of constructing accurate two-dimensional maps of the stellar mass distribution in nearby galaxies from Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies 3.6 and 4.5 μm images, we report on the separation of the light from old stars from the emission contributed by contaminants. Results for a small sample of six disk galaxies (NGC 1566, NGC 2976, NGC 3031, NGC 3184, NGC 4321, and NGC 5194) with a range of morphological properties, dust content, and star formation histories are presented to demonstrate our approach. To isolate the old stellar light from contaminant emission (e.g., hot dust and the 3.3 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature) in the IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 μm bands we use an independent component analysis (ICA) technique designed to separate statistically independent source distributions, maximizing the distinction in the [3.6]-[4.5] colors of the sources. The technique also removes emission from evolved red objects with a low mass-to-light ratio, such as asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and red supergiant (RSG) stars, revealing maps of the underlying old distribution of light with [3.6]-[4.5] colors consistent with the colors of K and M giants. The contaminants are studied by comparison with the non-stellar emission imaged at 8 μm, which is dominated by the broad PAH feature. Using the measured 3.6 μm/8 μm ratio to select individual contaminants, we find that hot dust and PAHs together contribute between ~5% and 15% to the integrated light at 3.6 μm, while light from regions dominated by intermediate-age (AGB and RSG) stars accounts for only 1%-5%. Locally, however, the contribution from either contaminant can reach much higher levels; dust contributes on average 22% to the emission in star-forming regions throughout the sample, while intermediate-age stars contribute upward of 50% in localized knots. The removal of these contaminants with ICA leaves maps of the old stellar disk that retain a high degree of structural information and are ideally suited for tracing stellar mass, as will be the focus in a companion paper

Brickbats and bouquets for marketing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the development and application of marketing theory and practice over time and its current status. The terms “brickbats” and “bouquets” are used as metaphors to extend praise or criticism for marketing. In doing so, the authors draw upon the views of leading theorists over time and apply these in the current environmental context. Design/methodology/approach The approach adopted is discursive, critical and conceptual. Findings Following literature review, and drawing upon current examples, marketing as a discipline is subject to both kudos and criticisms. Nonetheless, it is concluded optimistically in that marketing can be an even greater source for societal good. That “goodness” is partly based upon the added impetus of social media adoption and use by consumers, the need for growth and accelerative innovation in the digital age coupled with the democratisation of consumption. Nonetheless, the authors offer the caveat that free competitive markets lead to market failures, and the need for market regulation by governments is becoming more evident. Research limitations/implications The implications of the paper are profound. Academics should be concerned in and involved with marketing theory. Questions need to be raised concerning non-robust definitions of marketing and its application. The authors wait for a consumer-led approach to marketing to add depth to the marketing theory. Practical implications Marketers need to be made more accountable for their actions. Consumers need to become part of the marketing process. Marketing claims need to be verified by delivered benefits. Companies need to take steps to ensure that the marketing process does not end at purchase. Satisfaction needs to be made manifest. Likewise, dissatisfactions need to be managed well as part of the marketing process. Social implications Too much marketing currently is relatively unregulated in the sense that there are so few opportunities to evade its myriad reach and – despite social media – little chance of changing marketing practice for the good of societies. Many criticisms of marketing practice are not being addressed in the literature. Originality/value Marketing is a vibrant force in all nations and markets. It is deeply rooted in business practice. It is contemporaneous and relevant. It is global and national. But, it is not entirely all good news. There are caveats and criticisms as well as kudos and praise. While both are addressed here, the topic needs to be considered for marketing and its accompanying theory and practice to change

Circulating levels of prolactin in human breast cancer.

Serum prolactin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays in 98 patients with established carcinoma of breast, 12 patients with cystic mastitis and 10 patients with gynaecomastia and compared with that of age matched normal control women. The serum prolactin levels in the patients with breast cancer, gynaecomastia or cystic mastitis were observed to be similar to that in normal women. It was interesting to note that the levels of prolactin in the luteal phase of the cycle were higher than that in the early follicular phase in normal women

Flame resistant elastomeric polymer development

Elastomeric products were developed for use in the space shuttle program, and investigations were conducted to improve the properties of elastomers developed in previous programs, and to evaluate the possibility of using lower-cost general purpose polymers. Products were fabricated and processed on conventional processing equipment; these products include: foams based on fluorinated rubber flame-retarded compounds with a density of 20-30 pounds/cubic foot for use as padding and in helmets; foams based on urethane for use in instrument packaging in the space shuttle; flexible and semi-rigid films of fluorinated rubber and neoprene compounds that would not burn in a 70% nitrogen, 30% oxygen atmosphere, and in a 30% nitrogen, 70% oxygen atmosphere, respectively for use in packaging or in laminates; coated fabrics which used both nylon and Kelvar fabric substrates, coated with either fluorinated or neoprene polymer compositions to meet specific levels of flame retardancy; and other flame-resistant materials