Palatini formulation of f(R,T)f(R,T) gravity theory, and its cosmological implications

We consider the Palatini formulation of $f(R,T)$ gravity theory, in which a nonminimal coupling between the Ricci scalar and the trace of the energy-momentum tensor is introduced, by considering the metric and the affine connection as independent field variables. The field equations and the equations of motion for massive test particles are derived, and we show that the independent connection can be expressed as the Levi-Civita connection of an auxiliary, energy-momentum trace dependent metric, related to the physical metric by a conformal transformation. Similarly to the metric case, the field equations impose the non-conservation of the energy-momentum tensor. We obtain the explicit form of the equations of motion for massive test particles in the case of a perfect fluid, and the expression of the extra-force, which is identical to the one obtained in the metric case. The thermodynamic interpretation of the theory is also briefly discussed. We investigate in detail the cosmological implications of the theory, and we obtain the generalized Friedmann equations of the $f(R,T)$ gravity in the Palatini formulation. Cosmological models with Lagrangians of the type $f=R-\alpha ^2/R+g(T)$ and $f=R+\alpha ^2R^2+g(T)$ are investigated. These models lead to evolution equations whose solutions describe accelerating Universes at late times.Comment: 22 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in EPJC; references adde

Micro-CT Imaging of RGD-Conjugated Gold Nanorods Targeting Tumor In Vivo

Gold nanomaterials as computed tomography (CT) contrast agents at lower X-ray dosage to get a higher contrast have advantages of longer imaging time and lower toxic side effects compared to current contrast agents. As a receptor for Cyclo (Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) (RGD) peptide, integrin αvβ3 is overexpressed on some tumor cells and tumor neovasculature. In this paper, we conjugated the RGD peptide on the surface of gold nanorods (AuNRs), designated as RGD-AuNRs, a promising candidate in applications such as tumor targeting and imaging capability for micro-CT imaging. Integrin αvβ3-positive U87 cells and integrin αvβ3-negative HT-29 cells were chosen to establish animal models relatedly and then texted the tumor targeting ability and imaging capability of RGD-AuNRs in vitro and in vivo. The MTT assay and stability measurement showed that RGD-conjugation eliminated their cytotoxicity and improved their biocompatibility and stability. Dark-field imaging of U87 cells and HT-29 cells testified the binding affinities and uptake abilities of RGD-AuNRs, and the results showed that RGD-AuNRs were more specifical to U87 cells. The enhanced micro-CT imaging contrast of intramuscular and subcutaneous injection illustrated the feasibility of RGD-AuNRs to be contrast agents. Furthermore, the micro-CT imaging of targeting U87 and HT-29 tumor models verified the targeting abilities of RGD-AuNRs

Truncated Total Least Squares Method with a Practical Truncation Parameter Choice Scheme for Bioluminescence Tomography Inverse Problem

In bioluminescence tomography (BLT), reconstruction of internal bioluminescent source distribution from the surface optical signals is an ill-posed inverse problem. In real BLT experiment, apart from the measurement noise, the system errors caused by geometry mismatch, numerical discretization, and optical modeling approximations are also inevitable, which may lead to large errors in the reconstruction results. Most regularization techniques such as Tikhonov method only consider measurement noise, whereas the influences of system errors have not been investigated. In this paper, the truncated total least squares method (TTLS) is introduced into BLT reconstruction, in which both system errors and measurement noise are taken into account. Based on the modified generalized cross validation (MGCV) criterion and residual error minimization, a practical parameter-choice scheme referred to as improved GCV (IGCV) is proposed for TTLS. Numerical simulations with different noise levels and physical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of TTLS combined with IGCV for solving the BLT inverse problem

Responses of Community Structure, Productivity and Turnover Traits to Long-Term Grazing Exclusion in a Semiarid Grassland on the Loess Plateau of Northern China

Grazing exclusion has been widely used for restoration of degraded grassland all over the world. Based on over a 30-year (from 1982 to 2011) vegetation survey and a 2-year (from 2013 to 2014) field decomposition experiment in Yunwu Mountain Grassland Nature Reserve on the Loess Plateau of China, responses of community structure and productivity and decomposition traits of dominant Stipa species (Stipa bungeana, Stipa grandis and Stipa przewalskyi) litters were determined to reveal the ecosystem cyclic process. Results showed that grassland coverage, plant density, Shannon-Wiener index and aboveground productivity changed in a hump pattern with peaks in 2002. Productivity was significantly positively correlated with mean annual temperature. The direction and magnitude about effects of climatic changes on productivity depended on phonological stages of plant community. Warming in early stage of growing season (April–May) contributed the increase of productivity, while temperature rise after the growing season (September–March in the next following year) was negatively correlated with productivity in the following year. Leaf litters of three Stipa species (S. bungeana, S. grandis and S. przewalskyi) had higher decomposition rates in the growing season than that in the nongrowing season. Nutrient-releasing pattern in litters of three Stipa species followed a different pattern: S. bungeana > S.grandis>S. przewalskyi. Considering productivity and decomposition traits, grazing exclusion promotes carbon sequestration of semiarid grassland, while adjustments in nutrient cycling might explain fluctuations of community structure

Auroral event detection using spatiotemporal statistics of local motion vectors

The analysis and exploration of auroral dynamics are very significant for studying auroral mechanisms. This paper proposes a method based on auroral dynamic processes for detecting auroral events automatically. We first obtained the motion fields using the multiscale fluid flow estimator. Then, the auroral video frame sequence was represented by the spatiotemporal statistics of local motion vectors. Finally, automatic auroral event detection was achieved. The experimental results show that our methods could detect the required auroral events effectively and accurately, and that the detections were independent on any specific auroral event. The proposed method makes it feasible to statistically analyze a large number of continuous observations based on the auroral dynamic process

Seroprevalence of Bartonella in Eastern China and analysis of risk factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>infections are emerging in the Zhejiang Province of China. However, there has been no effort to date to explore the epidemiology of these infections in this region, nor to identify risk factors associated with exposure to <it>Bartonella</it>. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>in both patients bitten by dogs and blood donors (for control) in Eastern China, and to identify risk factors associated with exposure to <it>Bartonella</it>. As no previous data for this region have been published, this study will provide baseline data useful for <it>Bartonella </it>infection surveillance, control, and prevention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from industrial rabies clinic attendees and blood donors living in eight areas of the Zhejiang Province of China, between December 2005 and November 2006. An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was used to determine the presence of <it>Bartonella </it>in these samples. Risk factors associated with <it>Bartonella </it>exposure were explored using Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis of epidemiological data relating to the study's participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>antibodies were detected in 19.60% (109/556) of blood samples. Seroprevalence varied among the eight areas surveys, ranging from over 32% in Hangzhou to only 2% in Jiangshan (X²= 28.22, P < 0.001). We detected a significantly higher prevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>antibodies in people who had been bitten by dogs than in blood donors (X²= 13.86, P < 0.001). Seroprevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>was similar among males (18.61%, n = 317) and females (20.92%, n = 239).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>antibodies were encountered in people living across Zhejiang Province and the seropositivity rate among those exposed to dog bites was significantly higher than that among blood donors, indicating that dog bites may be a risk factor for <it>Bartonella </it>infection.</p