10,755 research outputs found
Second order reductions of the WDVV Equations related to classical Lie algebras
We construct second order reductions of the generalized
Witten-Dijkgraaf-Verlinde-Verlinde system based on simple Lie algebras. We
discuss to what extent some of the symmetries of the WDVV system are preserved
by the reduction.Comment: 6 pages, 1 tabl
Efficacy of Two Common Methods of Application of Residual Insecticide for Controlling the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), in Urban Areas
After its first introduction in the 1980's the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), has spread throughout Southern Europe. Ae. albopictus is considered an epidemiologically important vector for the transmission of many viral pathogens such as the yellow fever virus, dengue fever and Chikungunya fever, as well as several filarial nematodes such as Dirofilaria immitis or D. repens. It is therefore crucial to develop measures to reduce the risks of disease transmission by controlling the vector populations. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of two application techniques (mist vs. stretcher sprayer) and two insecticides (Etox based on the nonester pyrethroid Etofenprox vs. Microsin based on the pyrethroid type II Cypermetrin) in controlling adult tiger mosquito populations in highly populated areas. To test the effect of the two treatments pre- and post-treatment human landing rate counts were conducted for two years. After one day from the treatment we observed a 100% population decrease in mosquito abundance with both application methods and both insecticides. However, seven and 14 days after the application the stretcher sprayer showed larger population reductions than the mist sprayer. No effect of insecticide type after one day and 14 days was found, while Etox caused slightly higher population reduction than Microsin after seven days. Emergency measures to locally reduce the vector populations should adopt adulticide treatments using stretcher sprayers. However, more research is still needed to evaluate the potential negative effects of adulticide applications on non-target organisms
Iron Emission in the z=6.4 Quasar SDSS J114816.64+525150.3
We present near-infrared J and K-band spectra of the z = 6.4 quasar SDSS
J114816.64+525150.3 obtained with the NIRSPEC spectrograph at the Keck-II
telescope, covering the rest-frame spectral regions surrounding the C IV 1549
and Mg II 2800 emission lines. The iron emission blend at rest wavelength
2900-3000 A is clearly detected and its strength appears nearly
indistinguishable from that of typical quasars at lower redshifts. The Fe II /
Mg II ratio is also similar to values found for lower-redshift quasars,
demonstrating that there is no strong evolution in Fe/alpha broad-line emission
ratios even out to z=6.4. In the context of current models for iron enrichment
from Type Ia supernovae, this implies that the SN Ia progenitor stars formed at
z > 10. We apply the scaling relations of Vestergaard and of McLure & Jarvis to
estimate the black hole mass from the widths of the C IV and Mg II emission
lines and the ultraviolet continuum luminosity. The derived mass is in the
range (2-6)x10^9 solar masses, with an additional uncertainty of a factor of 3
due to the intrinsic scatter in the scaling relations. This result is in
agreement with the previous mass estimate of 3x10^9 solar masses by Willott,
McLure, & Jarvis, and supports their conclusion that the quasar is radiating
close to its Eddington luminosity.Comment: To appear in ApJ Letter
Pain modulation by illusory body rotation: A new way to disclose the interaction between the vestibular system and pain processing
Background
Clinical and experimental evidence advocates a structural and functional link between the vestibular and other sensory systems. For instance, visuoâvestibular and vestibularâsomatosensory interactions have been widely reported. However, whether visual inputs carrying vestibular information can modulate pain is not yet clear. Recent evidence using natural vestibular stimulation or moving visual stimuli, points at an unspecific effect of distraction.
Methods
By using immersive virtual reality (VR), we created a new way to prompt the vestibular system through the vision of static visual cues, studying the possible interaction with pain. Twentyâfour healthy participants were visually immersed in a virtual room which could appear with five different degrees of rotation in the sagittal axis, either towards the right, left or with no rotation. Participants' heat pain thresholds and subjective reports of perceived body rotation, sense of presence and attention were measured.
Results
âBeingâ in a tilted room induced the sensation of body rotation in our participants, even though they were always in an upright position. We also found that rotating the visual scenario can modulate the participants' pain thresholds, determining a significant increase when a left tilt is displayed. In addition, a positive correlation between the perceived body midline rotation and pain threshold was found when the virtual room was titled 15 degrees toward the left. Importantly, all VR conditions were found to be equally distractive.
Conclusions
Vestibular information present in static visual cues can modulate experimentallyâinduced acute pain according to a sideâdependent manner and bypassing supramodal attentional mechanisms. These findings may help refining pain management approaches based on multimodal stimulation.
Significance
This study explored how the visualization of static environments in immersive virtual reality can lead to pain threshold modulation through the activation of the vestibular system. Immersion into rotated virtual environments led to the illusory sensation of body rotation, and this sensation was found to be related with a modulation of pain perception. Possible analgesic effects due to distraction could be ruled out. These results expand our current knowledge about how the visual, vestibular and somatosensory (pain) systems interact. These findings may influence future pain treatment strategies based on multisensory stimulation
An adaptive stigmergy-based system for evaluating technological indicator dynamics in the context of smart specialization
Regional innovation is more and more considered an important enabler of
welfare. It is no coincidence that the European Commission has started looking
at regional peculiarities and dynamics, in order to focus Research and
Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization towards effective investment
policies. In this context, this work aims to support policy makers in the
analysis of innovation-relevant trends. We exploit a European database of the
regional patent application to determine the dynamics of a set of technological
innovation indicators. For this purpose, we design and develop a software
system for assessing unfolding trends in such indicators. In contrast with
conventional knowledge-based design, our approach is biologically-inspired and
based on self-organization of information. This means that a functional
structure, called track, appears and stays spontaneous at runtime when local
dynamism in data occurs. A further prototyping of tracks allows a better
distinction of the critical phenomena during unfolding events, with a better
assessment of the progressing levels. The proposed mechanism works if
structural parameters are correctly tuned for the given historical context.
Determining such correct parameters is not a simple task since different
indicators may have different dynamics. For this purpose, we adopt an
adaptation mechanism based on differential evolution. The study includes the
problem statement and its characterization in the literature, as well as the
proposed solving approach, experimental setting and results.Comment: mail: [email protected]
Nuclear response for the Skyrme effective interaction with zero-range tensor terms. II. Sum rules and instabilities
The formalism of linear response theory for Skyrme forces including tensor
terms presented in article [1] is generalized for the case of a Skyrme energy
density functional in infinite matter. We also present analytical results for
the odd-power sum rules, with particular attention to the inverse energy
weighted sum rule, , as a tool to detect instabilities in Skyrme
functionals.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
An automatic deep learning approach for coronary artery calcium segmentation
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a significant marker of atherosclerosis and
cardiovascular events. In this work we present a system for the automatic
quantification of calcium score in ECG-triggered non-contrast enhanced cardiac
computed tomography (CT) images. The proposed system uses a supervised deep
learning algorithm, i.e. convolutional neural network (CNN) for the
segmentation and classification of candidate lesions as coronary or not,
previously extracted in the region of the heart using a cardiac atlas. We
trained our network with 45 CT volumes; 18 volumes were used to validate the
model and 56 to test it. Individual lesions were detected with a sensitivity of
91.24%, a specificity of 95.37% and a positive predicted value (PPV) of 90.5%;
comparing calcium score obtained by the system and calcium score manually
evaluated by an expert operator, a Pearson coefficient of 0.983 was obtained. A
high agreement (Cohen's k = 0.879) between manual and automatic risk prediction
was also observed. These results demonstrated that convolutional neural
networks can be effectively applied for the automatic segmentation and
classification of coronary calcifications
Pengaruh Variasi Warna Kuning Pada Fly Grill Terhadap Kepadatan Lalat (Studi Di Tempat Pelelangan Ikan Tambak Lorok Kota Semarang) Effect of Variation the Color Yellow on Fly Grill to Density of Flies (Study at Fish Ouction Place Tambak Lorok Semarang Cit
Flies are vectors that carrying disease so need measured it densities for control purposes. Flies also the insects which have compound eyes can distinguish some colors frequencies. Fly grill one the tools measuring density of flies. Fly grill made wooden planks with varied color. Fly grill used given paint the ocher, light yellow, white and one fly grill without paint. The general objective of this study was determine the effect of variations of yellow color the fly grill to the density of flies. The study design used was quasi experiment with models Post Test Only Design. This research was conducted at the fish auction place (TPI) Tambak Lorok Semarang city for four days at four different locations. At predetermined point, did measurements ten times by calculating the average data five times the highest calculation. The results show the werage number of fly grill without paint is 8,5 flies, white 9,5 flies, ocher 16 ekor, light yellow 9,75 flies. Data were analyzed by Kruskall Wallis the significant level α=0.05. From the calculation using Mann Whitney, states that there are differences the density of flies the fly grill by using different color variations, in order from highest to lowest is ocher color, light yellow, white and without paint. Herefore, is advisable to use the fly grill with ocher colors in measuring the density of flies also the need for the control of flies in TPI because of the results from research obtained the flies have exceeded five flies per block grill
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