987 research outputs found
Statistics of extinction and survival in Lotka-Volterra systems
We analyze purely competitive many-species Lotka-Volterra systems with random
interaction matrices, focusing the attention on statistical properties of their
asymptotic states. Generic features of the evolution are outlined from a
semiquantitative analysis of the phase-space structure, and extensive numerical
simulations are performed to study the statistics of the extinctions. We find
that the number of surviving species depends strongly on the statistical
properties of the interaction matrix, and that the probability of survival is
weakly correlated to specific initial conditions.Comment: Previous version had error in authors. 11 pages, including 5 figure
Development of visceral and subcutaneous-abdominal adipose tissue in breastfed infants during first year of lactation
This study aimed to investigate relationships between infant abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adiposity and human milk (HM) components and maternal body composition (BC) during first year of lactation. Subcutaneous-abdominal depth (SAD), subcutaneous-abdominal fat area (SFA), visceral depth (VD) and preperitoneal fat area of 20 breastfed infants were assessed at 2, 5, 9 and 12 months using ultrasound. Maternal BC was determined with bioimpedance spectroscopy. HM macronutrients and bioactive components concentrations and infant 24-h milk intake were measured and calculated daily intakes (CDI) determined. Maternal adiposity associated with infant SFA (negatively at 2, 5, 12, positively at 9 months, all overall p < 0.05). 24-h milk intake positively associated with infant SAD (p = 0.007) and VD (p = 0.013). CDI of total protein (p = 0.013), total carbohydrates (p = 0.004) and lactose (p = 0.013) positively associated with SFA. Lactoferrin concentration associated with infant VD (negatively at 2, 12, positively at 5, 9 months, overall p = 0.003). CDI of HM components and maternal adiposity have differential effects on development of infant visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adiposity. Maintaining healthy maternal BC and continuing breastfeeding to 12 months and beyond may facilitate favourable BC development reducing risk of obesity
Evolution of the electronic structure with size in II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals
In order to provide a quantitatively accurate description of the band gap
variation with sizes in various II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals, we make use
of the recently reported tight-binding parametrization of the corresponding
bulk systems. Using the same tight-binding scheme and parameters, we calculate
the electronic structure of II-VI nanocrystals in real space with sizes ranging
between 5 and 80 {\AA} in diameter. A comparison with available experimental
results from the literature shows an excellent agreement over the entire range
of sizes.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.
Optimal low-thrust trajectories to asteroids through an algorithm based on differential dynamic programming
In this paper an optimisation algorithm based on Differential Dynamic Programming is applied to the design of rendezvous and fly-by trajectories to near Earth objects. Differential dynamic programming is a successive approximation technique that computes a feedback control law in correspondence of a fixed number of decision times. In this way the high dimensional problem characteristic of low-thrust optimisation is reduced into a series of small dimensional problems. The proposed method exploits the stage-wise approach to incorporate an adaptive refinement of the discretisation mesh within the optimisation process. A particular interpolation technique was used to preserve the feedback nature of the control law, thus improving robustness against some approximation errors introduced during the adaptation process. The algorithm implements global variations of the control law, which ensure a further increase in robustness. The results presented show how the proposed approach is capable of fully exploiting the multi-body dynamics of the problem; in fact, in one of the study cases, a fly-by of the Earth is scheduled, which was not included in the first guess solution
Electronic structure, phase stability and chemical bonding in ThAl and ThAlH
We present the results of theoretical investigation on the electronic
structure, bonding nature and ground state properties of ThAl and
ThAlH using generalized-gradient-corrected first-principles
full-potential density-functional calculations. ThAlH has been reported
to violate the "2 \AA rule" of H-H separation in hydrides. From our total
energy as well as force-minimization calculations, we found a shortest H-H
separation of 1.95 {\AA} in accordance with recent high resolution powder
neutron diffraction experiments. When the ThAl matrix is hydrogenated, the
volume expansion is highly anisotropic, which is quite opposite to other
hydrides having the same crystal structure. The bonding nature of these
materials are analyzed from the density of states, crystal-orbital Hamiltonian
population and valence-charge-density analyses. Our calculation predicts
different nature of bonding for the H atoms along and . The strongest
bonding in ThAlH is between Th and H along which form dumb-bell
shaped H-Th-H subunits. Due to this strong covalent interaction there is very
small amount of electrons present between H atoms along which makes
repulsive interaction between the H atoms smaller and this is the precise
reason why the 2 {\AA} rule is violated. The large difference in the
interatomic distances between the interstitial region where one can accommodate
H in the and planes along with the strong covalent interaction
between Th and H are the main reasons for highly anisotropic volume expansion
on hydrogenation of ThAl.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure
(Anti)Proton and Pion Source Sizes and Phase Space Densities in Heavy Ion Collisions
NA44 has measured mid-rapidity deuteron spectra from AA collisions at
sqrt{s}=18GeV/A at the CERN SPS. Combining these spectra with published proton,
antiproton and antideuteron data allows us to calculate, within a coalescence
framework, proton and antiproton source sizes and phase space densities. These
results are compared to pion source sizes and densities, pA results and to
lower energy (AGS) data. The antiproton source is larger than the proton source
at sqrt{s}=18GeV/A. The phase space densities of pions and protons are not
constant but grow with system size. Both pi+ and proton radii decrease with
transverse mass and increase with sqrt{s}. Pions and protons do not freeze-out
independently. The nature of their interaction changes as sqrt{s}, and the
pion/proton ratio increases.Comment: 4 pages, Latex 2.09, 3 eps figures. Changes for January 2001. The
proton source size is now calculated assuming a more realistic Hulthen,
rather than Gaussian, wavefunction. A new figure shows the effect of this
change which is important for small radii. A second new figure shows the
results of RQMD calculations of the proton source size and phase density.
Because of correlations between position and momentum coalesence does not
show the full proton source size. The paper has been streamlined and
readability improve
FOOD, FOOD SECURITY AND UN REFORM
SUMMARY The article addresses the question of UN reform from the perspective of food security. It offers a balance sheet of UN strengths and weaknesses, praising the UN role in advocacy, technical coordination and resource mobilization, but identifying serious politico?bureaucratic problems, and new challenges to the UN mandate caused by the coexistence of hunger and conflict. In understanding why the weaknesses occur, there are useful connections to be made in the debates on public administration, good government and the sociology of international politics, as well as those more directly on UN reform. These lead the article to identify four general principles for UN reform in the food security area, and to explore two options for change, one to improve the status quo and one to introduce more radical change. The latter is preferred: the UN mandate needs review, particularly in the area of conflict; there are too many agencies; and there are too many independent budgets. The article argues for a focal point in the UN system for policy determination and resource allocation for food security
A protocol for developing reporting guidelines for laboratory studies in endodontology
Laboratoryâbased research studies are the most common form of research endeavour and make up the majority of manuscripts that are submitted for publication in the field of Endodontology. The scientific information derived from laboratory studies can be used to design a wide range of subsequent studies and clinical trials and may have translational potential to benefit clinical practice. Unfortunately, the majority of laboratoryâbased articles submitted for publication fail the peerâreview step, because unacceptable flaws or substantial limitations are identified. Even when apparently wellâconducted laboratoryâbased articles are peerâreviewed, they can often require substantial corrections prior to the publication. It is apparent that some authors and reviewers may lack the training and experience to have developed a systematic approach to evaluate the quality of laboratory studies. Occasionally, even accepted manuscripts contain limitations that may compromise interpretation of data. To help authors avoid manuscript rejection and correction pitfalls, and to aid editors/reviewers to evaluate manuscripts systematically, the purpose of this project is to establish and publish quality guidelines for authors to report laboratory studies in the field of Endodontology so that the highest standards are achieved. The new guidelines will be namedââPreferred Reporting Items for Laboratory studies in Endodontologyâ (PRILE). A steering committee was assembled by the project leads to develop the guidelines through a fiveâphase consensus process. The committee will identify new items as well as review and adapt items from existing guidelines. The items forming the draft guidelines will be reviewed and refined by a PRILE Delphi Group (PDG). The items will be evaluated by the PDG on a nineâpoint Likert scale for relevance and inclusion. The agreed items will then be discussed by a PRILE faceâtoâface consensus meeting group (PFCMG) formed by 20 individuals to further refine the guidelines. This will be subject to final approval by the steering committee. The approved PRILE guidelines will be disseminated through publication in relevant journals, presented at congresses/meetings, and be freely available on a dedicated website. Feedback and comments will be solicited from researchers, editors and peer reviewers, who are invited to contact the steering committee with comments to help them update the guidelines periodically
Optical Spectra of SNR Candidates in NGC 300
We present moderate-resolution (<5A) long-slit optical spectra of 51 nebular
objects in the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300 obtained with the 2.3 meter
Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Adopting
the criterion of [SII]/Ha>=0.4 to confirm supernova remnants (SNRs) from
optical spectra, we find that of 28 objects previously proposed as SNRs from
optical observations, 22 meet this criterion with six showing [SII]/Ha of less
than 0.4. Of 27 objects suggested as SNRs from radio data, four are associated
with the 28 previously proposed SNRs. Of these four, three (included in the 22
above) meet the criterion. In all, 22 of the 51 nebular objects meet the
[SII]/Ha criterion as SNRs while the nature of the remaining 29 objects remains
undetermined by these observations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
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