Cluster density functional theory for lattice models based on the theory of Mobius functions

Rosenfeld's fundamental measure theory for lattice models is given a rigorous formulation in terms of the theory of Mobius functions of partially ordered sets. The free-energy density functional is expressed as an expansion in a finite set of lattice clusters. This set is endowed a partial order, so that the coefficients of the cluster expansion are connected to its Mobius function. Because of this, it is rigorously proven that a unique such expansion exists for any lattice model. The low-density analysis of the free-energy functional motivates a redefinition of the basic clusters (zero-dimensional cavities) which guarantees a correct zero-density limit of the pair and triplet direct correlation functions. This new definition extends Rosenfeld's theory to lattice model with any kind of short-range interaction (repulsive or attractive, hard or soft, one- or multi-component...). Finally, a proof is given that these functionals have a consistent dimensional reduction, i.e. the functional for dimension d' can be obtained from that for dimension d (d'<d) if the latter is evaluated at a density profile confined to a d'-dimensional subset.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, uses iopart.cls, as well as diagrams.sty (included

Corpus cavernosum from men with vasculogenic impotence is partially resistant to adenosine relaxation due to endothelial A(2B) receptor dysfunction

ABSTRACT Although adenosine has been implicated in penile erection in human males, the receptor subtype responsible for adenosine regulation of human corpus cavernosum (HCC) smooth muscle tone is still a matter of debate. Using selective adenosine agonists and antagonists, we aimed at characterizing the adenosine receptors mediating relaxation of precontracted (with 1 M phenylephrine) HCC strips. HCC specimens were collected from control subjects (organ donors) and from patients with severe vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). In control subjects, adenosine and 5 -N-ethyl-carboxamide adenosine (NECA) fully relaxed HCC. The selective A2A receptor agonist 2-[4-(2-p-carboxy ethyl)phenylamino]-5 -N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine (CGS21680C) produced only a partial relaxation (30–50%) of HCC, which could be further enhanced by simultaneous application of 100 M NECA. The selective A2B receptor antagonist N-(4-acetylphenyl)-2-[4-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydro- 2,6-dioxo-1,3-dipropyl-1H-purin-8-il)phenoxy] acetamida (MRS1706) (10 nM) attenuated NECA-induced relaxation without affecting CGS21680C action. The A2A receptor antagonist 4-{2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]triazolo-[2,3-a][1,3,5]triazin-5- ylamino]ethyl}phenol (ZM241385) (50 nM) consistently reduced the actions of both agonists. In contrast to CGS21680C, NECAinduced relaxation was attenuated when endothelial production of NO and prostanoids was reduced by 100 M NG-nitro-Larginine and 10 M indomethacin, respectively. HCC strips from patients with vasculogenic ED were partially resistant to NECA but kept relaxation to CGS21680C; the remaining effect was sensitive to blockade of A2A receptors with 50 nM ZM241385. Data suggest that adenosine regulates HCC smooth muscle tone through the activation of two receptor populations, CGS21680C-sensitive (A2A) and -insensitive (A2B) receptors, located on smooth muscle fibers and on endothelial cells, respectively. Endothelial dysfunction may be correlated with a loss of adenosine A2B receptor activity in penile vessels from men with vasculogenic ED

An advection-diffusion model to explain thermal surface anomalies off Cape Trafalgar

The authors describe an almost permanent thermal anomaly, with low surface-temperature values, off Cape Trafalgar. The existence of strong tidal currents in the alongshore direction, and the local offshore orientation of isobaths at this point, support the hypothesis of vertical forcing by interaction between the barotropic tide and topography. This is simplified for modelisation as the pass of a tidal current over a ridge, which is considered uniform in the crossshore direction. A bidimensional model in finite differences is developed to reproduce the main features observed experimentally. The combined effects of advection (both vertical and horizontal) and diffusion appear to be very important. The model is sensitive to the assumed values of thermal diffusion coefficients and their depth dependence, as well as to heat flux through the sea surface. To have realistic values for these parameters, a unidimensional diffusion model aimed at reproducing the mixed layer and thermocline observed in this area during summer has been developed. Heat flux and diffusion coefficients are adjustment parameters of the model, and, once determined, they are introduced in the 2-D advection-diffusion model. Results from simulation seem to be in good agreement with CTD observations, confirming our initial hypothesis.Se describe una anomalía térmica caracterizada por bajas temperaturas superficiales frente al cabo de Trafalgar. Debido a que la orientación de las isóbatas en esta área es casi perpendicular a la costa y a que existen fuertes corrientes de marea a lo largo de ella, se desarrolla la hipótesis de que la interacción entre las corrientes de marea y la topografía son los mecanismos responsables de esta anomalía. Para revisar esta hipótesis se desarrolla en el presente trabajo un modelo de advección-difusión que estudia el efecto del paso de una corriente de marea sobre un obstáculo. El modelo es sensible a ciertos parámetros, como los coeficientes de difusión térmica y el flujo de calor en la superficie del mar. Por ello desarrollamos un modelo monodimensional que reproduce la formación de la capa de mezcla y la termoclina estacional usando estos parámetros como parámetros de ajuste. Una vez encontrados los valores adecuados, son introducidos en el modelo de advección-difusión. Los resultados obtenidos parecen estar de acuerdo con los datos experimentales.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

The Open Data Repositorys Data Publisher

Data management and data publication are becoming increasingly important components of researcher's workflows. The complexity of managing data, publishing data online, and archiving data has not decreased significantly even as computing access and power has greatly increased. The Open Data Repository's Data Publisher software strives to make data archiving, management, and publication a standard part of a researcher's workflow using simple, web-based tools and commodity server hardware. The publication engine allows for uploading, searching, and display of data with graphing capabilities and downloadable files. Access is controlled through a robust permissions system that can control publication at the field level and can be granted to the general public or protected so that only registered users at various permission levels receive access. Data Publisher also allows researchers to subscribe to meta-data standards through a plugin system, embargo data publication at their discretion, and collaborate with other researchers through various levels of data sharing. As the software matures, semantic data standards will be implemented to facilitate machine reading of data and each database will provide a REST application programming interface for programmatic access. Additionally, a citation system will allow snapshots of any data set to be archived and cited for publication while the data itself can remain living and continuously evolve beyond the snapshot date. The software runs on a traditional LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) server and is available on GitHub (http://github.com/opendatarepository) under a GPLv2 open source license. The goal of the Open Data Repository is to lower the cost and training barrier to entry so that any researcher can easily publish their data and ensure it is archived for posterity

Data Sharing in Astrobiology: The Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database (AHED)

Astrobiology is a multidisciplinary area of scientific research focused on studying the origins of life on Earth and the conditions under which life might have emerged elsewhere in the universe. NASA uses the results of Astrobiology research to help define targets for future missions that are searching for life elsewhere in the universe. The understanding of complex questions in Astrobiology requires integration and analysis of data spanning a range of disciplines including biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy and planetary science. However, the lack of a centralized repository makes it difficult for Astrobiology teams to share data and benefit from resultant synergies. Moreover, in recent years, federal agencies are requiring that results of any federally funded scientific research must be available and useful for the public and the science community. The Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database (AHED), developed with a consolidated group of astrobiologists from different active research teams at NASA Ames Research Center, is designed to help to address these issues. AHED is a central, high-quality, long-term data repository for mineralogical, textural, morphological, inorganic and organic chemical, isotopic and other information pertinent to the advancement of the field of Astrobiology

Collaborative Data Publication Utilizing the Open Data Repository's Data Publisher

For small communities in multidisciplinary fields such as astrobiology, publishing and sharing data can be challenging. While large, homogenous fields often have repositories and existing data standards, small groups of independent researchers have few options for publishing data that can be utilized within their community. In conjunction with teams at NASA Ames and the University of Arizona, a number of pilot studies are being conducted to assess the needs of these research groups and to guide the software development so that it allows them to publish and share their data collaboratively

Collaborative Data Publication Utilizing the Open Data Repository's (ODR) Data Publisher

Introduction: For small communities in diverse fields such as astrobiology, publishing and sharing data can be a difficult challenge. While large, homogenous fields often have repositories and existing data standards, small groups of independent researchers have few options for publishing standards and data that can be utilized within their community. In conjunction with teams at NASA Ames and the University of Arizona, the Open Data Repository's (ODR) Data Publisher has been conducting ongoing pilots to assess the needs of diverse research groups and to develop software to allow them to publish and share their data collaboratively. Objectives: The ODR's Data Publisher aims to provide an easy-to-use and implement software tool that will allow researchers to create and publish database templates and related data. The end product will facilitate both human-readable interfaces (web-based with embedded images, files, and charts) and machine-readable interfaces utilizing semantic standards. Characteristics: The Data Publisher software runs on the standard LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack to provide the widest server base available. The software is based on Symfony (www.symfony.com) which provides a robust framework for creating extensible, object-oriented software in PHP. The software interface consists of a template designer where individual or master database templates can be created. A master database template can be shared by many researchers to provide a common metadata standard that will set a compatibility standard for all derivative databases. Individual researchers can then extend their instance of the template with custom fields, file storage, or visualizations that may be unique to their studies. This allows groups to create compatible databases for data discovery and sharing purposes while still providing the flexibility needed to meet the needs of scientists in rapidly evolving areas of research. Research: As part of this effort, a number of ongoing pilot and test projects are currently in progress. The Astrobiology Habitable Environments Database Working Group is developing a shared database standard using the ODR's Data Publisher and has a number of example databases where astrobiology data are shared. Soon these databases will be integrated via the template-based standard. Work with this group helps determine what data researchers in these diverse fields need to share and archive. Additionally, this pilot helps determine what standards are viable for sharing these types of data from internally developed standards to existing open standards such as the Dublin Core (http://dublincore.org) and Darwin Core (http://rs.twdg.org) metadata standards. Further studies are ongoing with the University of Arizona Department of Geosciences where a number of mineralogy databases are being constructed within the ODR Data Publisher system. Conclusions: Through the ongoing pilots and discussions with individual researchers and small research teams, a definition of the tools desired by these groups is coming into focus. As the software development moves forward, the goal is to meet the publication and collaboration needs of these scientists in an unobtrusive and functional way

Mineralogy of Vera Rubin Ridge in Gale Crater from the Mars Science Laboratory CheMin instrument

Gale crater was selected as the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover because of orbital evidence for a variety of secondary minerals in the lower slopes of Aeolis Mons (aka Mount Sharp) that indicate changes in aqueous conditions over time. Distinct units demonstrate orbital spectral signatures of hematite, phyllosilicate (smectite), and sulfate minerals, which suggest that ancient aqueous environments in Gale crater varied in oxidation potential, pH, and water activity. Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) is the first of these units identified from orbit to have been studied by Curiosity. Orbital near-infrared data from VRR show a strong band at 860 nm indicative of hematite. Before Curiosity arrived at VRR, the hypotheses to explain the formation of hematite included (1) precipitation at a redox interface where aqueous Fe2+ was oxidized to Fe3+, and (2) acidic alteration of olivine in oxic fluids. Studying the composition and sedimentology of the rocks on VRR allow us to test and refine these hypotheses and flesh out the depositional and diagenetic history of the ridge. Here, we focus on the mineralogical results of four rock powders drilled from and immediately below VRR as determined by CheMin

Telerehabilitation as a therapeutic exercise tool versus face-to-face physiotherapy: a systematic review

Digital physiotherapy, often referred to as “Telerehabilitation”, consists of applying rehabilitation using telecommunication technologies. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise when it is telematically prescribed. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, SportDiscus and PEDro (30 December 2022). The results were obtained by entering a combination of MeSH or Emtree terms with keywords related to telerehabilitation and exercise therapy. RCTs on patients over 18 years and two groups were included, one working with therapeutic exercise through telerehabilitation and one working with conventional physiotherapy group. Results: a total of 779 works were found. However, after applying the inclusion criteria, only 11 were selected. Telerehabilitation is most frequently used to treat musculoskeletal, cardiac and neurological pathologies. The preferred telerehabilitation tools are videoconferencing systems, telemonitoring and online platforms. Exercise programs ranged from 10 to 30 min and were similar in both intervention and control groups. In all the studies, results proved to be similar for telerehabilitation and face-to-face rehabilitation in both groups when measuring functionality, quality of life and satisfaction. Conclusion: this review generally concludes that intervention through telerehabilitation programs is as feasible and efficient as conventional physiotherapy in terms of functionality level and quality of life. In addition, telerehabilitation shows high levels of patients’ satisfaction and adherence, being values equivalent to traditional rehabilitation

The Use of the Cancellation Technique to Quantify the Hermann Grid Illusion

When observers view a grid of mid-gray lines superimposed on a black background, they report seeing illusory dark gray smudges at the grid intersections, an effect known as the Hermann grid illusion. The strength of the illusion is often measured using the cancellation technique: A white disk is placed over one of these intersections and the luminance of the disk is reduced until the disk disappears. Its luminance at this point, i.e., the disk's detection threshold, is taken to be a measure of the strength of the illusion. Our experiments showed that some distortions of the Hermann grid, which were sufficient to completely disrupt the illusion, did not reduce the disk's detection threshold. This showed that the cancellation technique is not a valid method for measuring the strength of the Hermann grid illusion. Those studies that attempted to use this technique inadvertently studied a different effect known as the blanking phenomenon. We conclude by presenting an explanation for the latter effect