112 research outputs found
Joint Planck and WMAP Assessment of Low CMB Multipoles
The remarkable progress in cosmic microwave background (CMB) studies over
past decade has led to the era of precision cosmology in striking agreement
with the CDM model. However, the lack of power in the CMB temperature
anisotropies at large angular scales (low-), as has been confirmed by the
recent Planck data also (up to ), although statistically not very
strong (less than ), is still an open problem. One can avoid to seek
an explanation for this problem by attributing the lack of power to cosmic
variance orcan look for explanations i.e., different inflationary potentials or
initial conditions for infl ation to begin with, non-trivial topology, ISW
effect etc. Features in the primordial power spectrum (PPS) motivated by the
early universe physics has been the most common solution to address this
problem. In the present work we also follow this approach and consider a set of
PPS which have features and constrain the parameters of those using WMAP 9 year
and Planck data employing Markov-Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis. The
prominent feature of all the models of PPS that we consider is an infra-red cut
off which leads to suppression of power at large angular scales. We consider
models of PPS with maximum three extra parameters and use Akaike information
criterion () and Bayesian information criterion () of model and
Bayesian information criterion () of model selection to compare the
models. For most models, we find good constraints for the cut off scale ,
however, for other parameters our constraints are not that good. We find that
sharp cut off model gives best likelihood value for the WMAP 9 year data, but
is as good as power law model according to . For the joint WMAP 9+Planck
data set, Starobinsky model is slightly preferred by which is also able
to produce CMB power suppression up to to some extent.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables, matches with the published version,
abstract is shortened to keep it within arXiv's limit (1920 characters
Effects of credit rating change on risk-taking
This thesis investigates whether there are changes in risk-taking behavior following an upgrade or downgrade in credit ratings. Research on effects of rating changes on capital markets is well-documented but the literature on how rating changes may affect firm behavior is sparse. Following, a downgrade in credit rating, managers may increase risk-taking to improve their overall performance or reduce risk-taking following upgrades to ensure that their performance is assessed more on the basis of what they may deem success in the form of an upgrade. Using a sample of firms trading in the U.S from 1994-2013, we find evidence of change in risk-taking behavior. We use cross-sectional regressions and matching using propensity scores and Barber and Lyon (1997) methodology to measure changes in risk-taking and we do find evidence of changes in managerial risk-taking behavior. Furthermore, we find that the direction of change (increase or decrease) in some cases is dependent on the type of measure rather than the type of rating change
Little evidence for entropy and energy excess beyond - An end to ICM preheating?
Non-gravitational feedback affects the nature of the intra-cluster medium
(ICM). X-ray cooling of the ICM and in situ energy feedback from AGN's and SNe
as well as {\it preheating} of the gas at epochs preceding the formation of
clusters are proposed mechanisms for such feedback. While cooling and AGN
feedbacks are dominant in cluster cores, the signatures of a preheated ICM are
expected to be present even at large radii. To estimate the degree of
preheating, with minimum confusion from AGN feedback/cooling, we study the
excess entropy and non-gravitational energy profiles upto for a
sample of 17 galaxy clusters using joint data sets of {\it Planck} SZ pressure
and {\it ROSAT/PSPC} gas density profiles. The canonical value of preheating
entropy floor of keV cm, needed in order to match cluster
scalings, is ruled out at . We also show that the feedback
energy of 1 keV/particle is ruled out at 5.2 beyond . Our
analysis takes both non-thermal pressure and clumping into account which can be
important in outer regions. Our results based on the direct probe of the ICM in
the outermost regions do not support any significant preheating.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepted in MNRAS Letter
Excess entropy and energy feedback from within cluster cores up to r
We estimate the "non-gravitational" entropy-injection profiles, ,
and the resultant energy feedback profiles, , of the intracluster
medium for 17 clusters using their Planck SZ and ROSAT X-Ray observations,
spanning a large radial range from up to . The feedback
profiles are estimated by comparing the observed entropy, at fixed gas mass
shells, with theoretical entropy profiles predicted from non-radiative
hydrodynamic simulations. We include non-thermal pressure and gas clumping in
our analysis. The inclusion of non-thermal pressure and clumping results in
changing the estimates for and by 10\%-20\%. When
clumpiness is not considered it leads to an under-estimation of keV cm at and keV cm at
. On the other hand, neglecting non-thermal pressure results in an
over-estimation of keV cm at and
under-estimation of keV cm at . For the
estimated feedback energy, we find that ignoring clumping leads to an
under-estimation of energy per particle keV at and
keV at . Similarly, neglect of the non-thermal
pressure results in an over-estimation of keV at
and under-estimation of keV at . We find entropy
floor of keV cm is ruled out at
throughout the entire radial range and keV at more than
3 beyond , strongly constraining ICM pre-heating scenarios. We
also demonstrate robustness of results w.r.t sample selection, X-Ray analysis
procedures, entropy modeling etc.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables, Accepted in MNRA
AGN feedback with the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and implications for cluster physics and cosmology
AGN feedback is regarded as an important non-gravitational process in galaxy
clusters, providing useful constraints on large-scale structure formation. It
modifies the structure and energetics of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) and
hence its understanding is crucially needed in order to use clusters as high
precision cosmological probes. In this context, particularly keeping in mind
the upcoming high quality radio data expected from radio surveys like SKA with
its higher sensitivity, high spatial and spectral resolutions, we review our
current understanding of AGN feedback, its cosmological implications and the
impact that SKA can have in revolutionizing our understanding of AGN feedback
in large-scale structures. Recent developments regarding the AGN outbursts and
its possible contribution to excess entropy in the hot atmospheres of groups
and clusters, its correlation with the feedback energy in ICM, quenching of
cooling flows and the possible connection between cool core clusters and radio
mini-halos, are discussed. We describe current major issues regarding modeling
of AGN feedback and its impact on the surrounding medium. With regard to the
future of AGN feedback studies, we examine the possible breakthroughs that can
be expected from SKA observations. In the context of cluster cosmology, for
example, we point out the importance of SKA observations for cluster mass
calibration by noting that most of clusters discovered by eROSITA X-ray
mission can be expected to be followed up through a 1000 hour SKA-1 mid
programme. Moreover, approximately radio mini halos and
radio halos at can be potentially detected by SKA1 and SKA2 and used as
tracers of galaxy clusters and determination of cluster selection function.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, Review article accepted in Journal of
Astrophysics and Astronomy (JOAA
The Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect as a Probe of the Large Scale Structure of the Universe
The Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect (S-Z effect) is a distortion in the cosmic microwave back-
ground radiation (CMBR) [1, 2, 3, 4] due to the inverse Compton scattering of CMBR
photons by the electrons in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) [5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. The effect is
an interaction between Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation photons and the free
electrons in the dense cores of galaxy clusters. These cores of clusters of galaxies are
thought to contain hot ionized gas at 107K [10]. This hot ionized gas is visible as X-ray
emission. The free electrons in the gas contain a significant amount of kinetic energy,
making them good sources for S-Z effect
Consumption-Based CO2 Emissions on Sustainable Development Goals of SAARC Region
Consumption-based CO2 emission (CBE) accounting shows the possibility of global carbon leakage. Very little attention has been paid to the amount of emissions related to the consumption of products and services and their impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially in the SAARC region. This study used a CBE accounting method to measure the CO2 emissions of five major SAARC member countries. Additionally, a Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and a causality model were used to investigate the long-term effects of the CBE and SDG variables between 1972 and 2015. The results showed that household consumption contributed more than 62.39% of CO2 emissions overall in the SAARC region. India had the highest household emissions, up to 37.27%, and Nepal contributed the lowest, up to 0.61%. The total imported emissions were the greatest in India (16.88 Gt CO2) and Bangladesh (15.90 Gt CO2). At the same time, the results for the long-term relationships between the CBEs and SDGs of the SAARC region showed that only the combustible renewables and waste (CRW) variable is significant for most of these countries. The sharing of the responsibility for emissions between suppliers and customers could encourage governments and policymakers to make global climate policy and sustainable development decisions,which are currently stalled by questions over geographical and past emission inequities
THE ROLE OF INTRAOPERATIVE FROZEN SECTION OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODES IN UPFRONT BREAST CONSERVATION CANCER SURGERY
Objective: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the standard of care in clinically negative axilla in breast cancer patients for which frozen section (FS) is routinely performed intraoperatively. The objective of this study was to justify the use of FS in terms of number of tests performed and their impact on decision-making and cost saving. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained data from January 2014 to January 2018 for intraoperative FS in upfront breast conservation surgery patients. Results: A total of 357 patients were studied. All were female. Median age was 50 years (24–84). Mean tumour size was 29.11 mm. Numbers of sentinel lymph nodes identified were 1 in 50 (14.2%) patients, 2 in 121 (33.89%) patients and ≥3 in 186 (52%) patients. Number of positive sentinel lymph nodes was 0 in 264 (73.9%) patients, 1 in 62 (17.4%) patients, 2 in 20 (5.6%) patients and ≥3 in 11 (3.08%) patients. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was offered to 30 (8.4%) patients as per the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011. The results for ALND showed that only 8 (2.3%) out of 30 patients had positive nodes identified in the additional axillary nodes dissected. Sensitivity of FS was 97% and specificity was 98.86%. False-negative rate was 3.22%. Conclusion: Intraoperative FS can be safely omitted in early breast cancer patients undergoing upfront breast conservation cancer surgery due to high sensitivity and specificity leading to low false-negative rates. ALND can be performed as a second operation as warranted only in a minority of patients. Key words: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial, axillary lymph node dissection, intraoperative frozen section, sentinel lymph node biops
Molecular Markers and Cotton Genetic Improvement: Current Status and Future Prospects
Narrow genetic base and complex allotetraploid genome of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is stimulating efforts to avail required polymorphism for marker based breeding. The availability of draft genome sequence of G. raimondii and G. arboreum and next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies facilitated the development of high-throughput marker technologies in cotton. The concepts of genetic diversity, QTL mapping, and marker assisted selection (MAS) are evolving into more efficient concepts of linkage disequilibrium, association mapping, and genomic selection, respectively. The objective of the current review is to analyze the pace of evolution in the molecular marker technologies in cotton during the last ten years into the following four areas: (i) comparative analysis of low- and high-throughput marker technologies available in cotton, (ii) genetic diversity in the available wild and improved gene pools of cotton, (iii) identification of the genomic regions within cotton genome underlying economic traits, and (iv) marker based selection methodologies. Moreover, the applications of marker technologies to enhance the breeding efficiency in cotton are also summarized. Aforementioned genomic technologies and the integration of several other omics resources are expected to enhance the cotton productivity and meet the global fiber quantity and quality demands
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