The cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback to z=1

This paper presents the first measurement of the radio luminosity function of 'jet-mode' (radiatively-inefficient) radio-AGN out to z=1, in order to investigate the cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback. Eight radio source samples are combined to produce a catalogue of 211 radio-loud AGN with 0.5<z<1.0, which are spectroscopically classified into jet-mode and radiative-mode (radiatively-efficient) AGN classes. Comparing with large samples of local radio-AGN from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the cosmic evolution of the radio luminosity function of each radio-AGN class is independently derived. Radiative-mode radio-AGN show an order of magnitude increase in space density out to z~1 at all luminosities, consistent with these AGN being fuelled by cold gas. In contrast, the space density of jet-mode radio-AGN decreases with increasing redshift at low radio luminosities (L_1.4 < 1e24 W/Hz) but increases at higher radio luminosities. Simple models are developed to explain the observed evolution. In the best-fitting models, the characteristic space density of jet-mode AGN declines with redshift in accordance with the declining space density of massive quiescent galaxies, which fuel them via cooling of gas in their hot haloes. A time delay of 1.5-2 Gyr may be present between the quenching of star formation and the onset of jet-mode radio-AGN activity. The behaviour at higher radio luminosities can be explained either by an increasing characteristic luminosity of jet-mode radio-AGN activity with redshift (roughly as (1+z) cubed) or if the jet-mode radio-AGN population also includes some contribution of cold-gas-fuelled sources seen at a time when their accretion rate was low. Higher redshifts measurements would distinguish between these possibilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

A Minimum-Labeling Approach for Reconstructing Protein Networks across Multiple Conditions

The sheer amounts of biological data that are generated in recent years have driven the development of network analysis tools to facilitate the interpretation and representation of these data. A fundamental challenge in this domain is the reconstruction of a protein-protein subnetwork that underlies a process of interest from a genome-wide screen of associated genes. Despite intense work in this area, current algorithmic approaches are largely limited to analyzing a single screen and are, thus, unable to account for information on condition-specific genes, or reveal the dynamics (over time or condition) of the process in question. Here we propose a novel formulation for network reconstruction from multiple-condition data and devise an efficient integer program solution for it. We apply our algorithm to analyze the response to influenza infection in humans over time as well as to analyze a pair of ER export related screens in humans. By comparing to an extant, single-condition tool we demonstrate the power of our new approach in integrating data from multiple conditions in a compact and coherent manner, capturing the dynamics of the underlying processes.Comment: Peer-reviewed and presented as part of the 13th Workshop on Algorithms in Bioinformatics (WABI2013

Assessing the Sensitivity of Different Life Stages for Sexual Disruption in Roach (Rutilus rutilus) Exposed to Effluents from Wastewater Treatment Works

Surveys of U.K. rivers have shown a high incidence of sexual disruption in populations of wild roach (Rutilus rutilus) living downstream from wastewater treatment works (WwTW), and the degree of intersex (gonads containing both male and female structural characteristics) has been correlated with the concentration of effluent in those rivers. In this study, we investigated feminized responses to two estrogenic WwTWs in roach exposed for periods during life stages of germ cell division (early life and the postspawning period). Roach were exposed as embryos from fertilization up to 300 days posthatch (dph; to include the period of gonadal sex differentiation) or as postspawning adult males, and including fish that had received previous estrogen exposure, for either 60 or 120 days when the annual event of germ cell proliferation occurs. Both effluents induced vitellogenin synthesis in both life stages studied, and the magnitude of the vitellogenic responses paralleled the effluent content of steroid estrogens. Feminization of the reproductive ducts occurred in male fish in a concentration-dependent manner when the exposure occurred during early life, but we found no effects on the reproductive ducts in adult males. Depuration studies (maintenance of fish in clean water after exposure to WwTW effluent) confirmed that the feminization of the reproductive duct was permanent. We found no evidence of ovotestis development in fish that had no previous estrogen exposure for any of the treatments. In wild adult roach that had previously received exposure to estrogen and were intersex, the degree of intersex increased during the study period, but this was not related to the immediate effluent exposure, suggesting a previously determined programming of ovotestis formation

Superpositions of the Orbital Angular Momentum for Applications in Quantum Experiments

Two different experimental techniques for preparation and analyzing superpositions of the Gaussian and Laguerre-Gassian modes are presented. This is done exploiting an interferometric method on the one hand and using computer generated holograms on the other hand. It is shown that by shifting the hologram with respect to an incoming Gaussian beam different superpositions of the Gaussian and the Laguerre-Gaussian beam can be produced. An analytical expression between the relative phase and the amplitudes of the modes and the displacement of the hologram is given. The application of such orbital angular momenta superpositions in quantum experiments such as quantum cryptography is discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. to appear in Journal of Optics

Investigating seasonal patterns in enteric infections: a systematic review of time series methods

Foodborne and waterborne gastrointestinal infections and their associated outbreaks are preventable, yet still result in significant morbidity, mortality, and revenue loss. Many enteric infections demonstrate seasonality, or annual systematic periodic fluctuations in incidence, associated with climatic and environmental factors. Public health professionals use statistical methods and time series models to describe, compare, explain, and predict seasonal patterns. However, descriptions and estimates of seasonal features, such as peak timing, depend on how researchers define seasonality for research purposes and how they apply time series methods. In this review, we outline the advantages and limitations of common methods for estimating seasonal peak timing. We provide recommendations improving reporting requirements for disease surveillance systems. Greater attention to how seasonality is defined, modeled, interpreted, and reported is necessary to promote reproducible research and strengthen proactive and targeted public health policies, intervention strategies, and preparedness plans to dampen the intensity and impacts of seasonal illnesses. © 2022 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved

Three terminal capacitance technique for magnetostriction and thermal expansion measurements

An instrument has been constructed to measure a large range of magnetostriction and thermal expansion between room temperature and 4 K in a superconductive split-coil magnet, that allows investigation in magnetic fields up to 12 T. The very small bulk samples (up to 1 mm in size) as well as big ones (up to 13 mm) of the irregular form can be measured. The possibility of magnetostriction investigation in thin films is shown. A general account is given of both electrical and the mechanical aspects of the design of capacitance cell and their associated electronic circuitry. A simple lever device is proposed to increase the sensitivity twice. The resulting obtained sensitivity can be 0.5 Angstrom. The performance of the technique is illustrated by some preliminary measurements of the magnetostriction of superconducting MgB2, thermal expansion of (La0.8Ba0.2)0.93MnO3 single crystal and magnetoelastic behavior of the Ni/Si(111) and La0.7Sr0.3CoO3/SAT0.7CAT0.1LA0.2(001) cantilevers.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, journal pape

Solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation for bound states of scalar theories in Minkowski space

We apply the perturbation theory integral representation (PTIR) to solve for the bound state Bethe-Salpeter (BS) vertex for an arbitrary scattering kernel, without the need for any Wick rotation. The results derived are applicable to any scalar field theory (without derivative coupling). It is shown that solving directly for the BS vertex, rather than the BS amplitude, has several major advantages, notably its relative simplicity and superior numerical accuracy. In order to illustrate the generality of the approach we obtain numerical solutions using this formalism for a number of scattering kernels, including cases where the Wick rotation is not possible.Comment: 28 pages of LaTeX, uses psfig.sty with 5 figures. Also available via WWW at http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/theory/papers/ADP-97-10.T248-abs.html or via anonymous ftp at ftp://bragg.physics.adelaide.edu.au/pub/theory/ADP-97-10.T248.ps A number of (crucial) typographical errors in Appendix C corrected. To be published in Phys. Rev. D, October 199

A consideration of the chi-square test of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in a non-multinomial situation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65698/1/j.1469-1809.1975.tb00116.x.pd

Optical alignment and spinning of laser-trapped microscopic particles

Light-induced rotation of absorbing microscopic particles by transfer of angular momentum from light to the material raises the possibility of optically driven micromachines. The phenomenon has been observed using elliptically polarized laser beams or beams with helical phase structure. But it is difficult to develop high power in such experiments because of overheating and unwanted axial forces, limiting the achievable rotation rates to a few hertz. This problem can in principle be overcome by using transparent particles, transferring angular momentum by a mechanism first observed by Beth in 1936, when he reported a tiny torque developed in a quartz waveplate due to the change in polarization of transmitted light. Here we show that an optical torque can be induced on microscopic birefringent particles of calcite held by optical tweezers. Depending on the polarization of the incident beam, the particles either become aligned with the plane of polarization (and thus can be rotated through specified angles) or spin with constant rotation frequency. Because these microscopic particles are transparent, they can be held in three-dimensional optical traps at very high power without heating. We have observed rotation rates in excess of 350 Hz.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure