161 research outputs found
A relativistic signature in large-scale structure
In General Relativity, the constraint equation relating metric and density perturbations is inherently nonlinear, leading to an effective non-Gaussianity in the dark matter density field on large scales-even if the primordial metric perturbation is Gaussian. Intrinsic non-Gaussianity in the large-scale dark matter overdensity in GR is real and physical. However, the variance smoothed on a local physical scale is not correlated with the large-scale curvature perturbation, so that there is no relativistic signature in the galaxy bias when using the simplest model of bias. It is an open question whether the observable mass proxies such as luminosity or weak lensing correspond directly to the physical mass in the simple halo bias model. If not, there may be observables that encode this relativistic signatur
Normalized difference vegetation index, temperature and age affect faecal thyroid hormone concentrations in free-ranging African elephants
Conservation biologists can use hormone measurements to assess animalsâwelfare, reproductive state, susceptibility to stressors, as well as energy expenditure. Quantifying hormone concentrations from faecal samples is particularly advantageous
as samples can be collected without disturbing animalsâ behaviour. In order for an endocrine marker to be useful for wildlife
managers, we need to understand how extrinsic and intrinsic factors affect hormone concentrations in free-ranging animal
populations. Thyroid hormones are linked to basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure. Previous research demonstrated
that triiodothyronine (T3) can be measured successfully in faecal matter of African elephants, Loxodonta africana. However, to
our knowledge, research into factors affecting changes in elephant T3 levels has only been carried out in captive elephants so
far. Thus, we present the first study of faecal T3 metabolite (mT3) concentrations of a large population of free-ranging African
elephants. Over 15 months, we collected faecal samples from identified (n = 43 samples) and unidentified (n = 145 samples)
individuals in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa. We investigated whether vegetative productivity [normalized difference
vegetation index (NDVI)] in interaction with mean monthly temperature, age and sex affected mT3 concentrations. We found
a significant negative interaction effect of NDVI and temperature. Increasing NDVI was related to higher concentrations of
mT3, but increasing temperature was related to a decrease in mT3 concentrations in individually identified and unidentified
elephants. In unidentified individuals, juvenile elephants had significantly higher mT3 concentrations compared to adult
elephants. Faecal T3 can successfully be quantified in samples from free-ranging elephant populations and thus provides
insight into energy expenditure in large herbivores.https://academic.oup.com/conphyspm2021Anatomy and PhysiologyMammal Research Institut
The Novel Probes Project -- Tests of Gravity on Astrophysical Scales
The Novel Probes Project, an initiative to advance the field of astrophysical tests of the dark sector by creating a forum that connects observers and theorists, is introduced. This review focuses on tests of gravity and is intended to be of use primarily to observers, as well as theorists with an interest in the development of experimental tests. It is twinned with a separate upcoming review on dark matter self-interactions. The review focuses on astrophysical tests of gravity in the weak-field regime, ranging from stars to quasilinear cosmological scales. This regime is complementary to both strong-field tests of gravity and background and linear probes in cosmology. In particular, the nonlinear screening mechanisms that are an integral part of viable modified-gravity models lead to characteristic signatures, specifically on astrophysical scales. The potential of these probes is not limited by cosmic variance but comes with the challenge of building robust theoretical models of the nonlinear dynamics of stars, galaxies, and large-scale structure. The groundwork is laid for a thorough exploration of the weak-field, nonlinear regime, with an eye to using the current and next generation of observations for tests of gravity. The scene is set by showing how gravitational theories beyond general relativity are expected to behave, focusing primarily on screening mechanisms. Analytic and numerical techniques for exploring the relevant astrophysical regime are described, as are the pertinent observational signals. With these in hand a range of astrophysical tests of gravity are presented, and prospects for future measurements and theoretical developments are discussed
Novel Probes Project: Tests of Gravity on Astrophysical Scales
The Novel Probes Project, an initiative to advance the field of astrophysical tests of the dark sector by creating a forum that connects observers and theorists, is introduced. This review focuses on tests of gravity and is intended to be of use primarily to observers, as well as theorists with an interest in the development of experimental tests. It is twinned with a separate upcoming review on dark matter self-interactions. The review focuses on astrophysical tests of gravity in the weak-field regime, ranging from stars to quasilinear cosmological scales. This regime is complementary to both strong-field tests of gravity and background and linear probes in cosmology. In particular, the nonlinear screening mechanisms that are an integral part of viable modified-gravity models lead to characteristic signatures, specifically on astrophysical scales. The potential of these probes is not limited by cosmic variance but comes with the challenge of building robust theoretical models of the nonlinear dynamics of stars, galaxies, and large-scale structure. The groundwork is laid for a thorough exploration of the weak-field, nonlinear regime, with an eye to using the current and next generation of observations for tests of gravity. The scene is set by showing how gravitational theories beyond general relativity are expected to behave, focusing primarily on screening mechanisms. Analytic and numerical techniques for exploring the relevant astrophysical regime are described, as are the pertinent observational signals. With these in hand a range of astrophysical tests of gravity are presented, and prospects for future measurements and theoretical developments are discussed
Seasonal effects on reconciliation in Macaca Fuscata Yakui
Dietary composition may have profound effects on the activity budgets, levelof food competition, and social behavior of a species. Similarly, in seasonally breeding species, the mating season is a period in which competition for mating partners increases, affecting amicable social interactions among group members. We analyzed the importance of the mating season and of seasonal variations in dietary composition and food competition on econciliation
in wild female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) on Yakushima Island, Japan. Yakushima macaques are appropriate subjects because they are seasonal breeders and their dietary composition significantly changes among the seasons. Though large differences occurred between the summer months and the winter and early spring months in activity budgets and the consumption of the main food sources, i.e., fruits, seeds, and leaves, the level
of food competition and conciliatory tendency remained unaffected. Conversely,conciliatory tendency is significantly lower during the mating season than in the nonmating season. Moreover, conciliatory tendency is lower when 1 or both female opponents is in estrous than when they are not. Thus the mating season has profound effects on reconciliation, whereas seasonal changes in activity budgets and dietary composition do not. The detrimental effects of the mating season on female social relationships and reconciliation may be due to the importance of female competition for access to male partners in multimale, multifemale societies
Large non-Gaussianities in the Effective Field Theory Approach to Single-Field Inflation: the Bispectrum
The methods of effective field theory are used to study generic theories of
inflation with a single inflaton field and to perform a general analysis of the
associated non-Gaussianities. We investigate the amplitudes and shapes of the
various generic three-point correlators, the bispectra, which may be generated
by different classes of single-field inflationary models. Besides the
well-known results for the DBI-like models and the ghost inflationary theories,
we point out that curvature-related interactions may give rise to large
non-Gaussianities in the form of bispectra characterized by a flat shape which,
quite interestingly, is independently produced by several interaction terms. In
a subsequent work, we will perform a similar general analysis for the
non-Gaussianities generated by the generic four-point correlator, the
trispectrum.Comment: Version matching the one published in JCAP, 2 typos fixed, references
added. 30 pages, 20 figure
Large non-Gaussianities in the Effective Field Theory Approach to Single-Field Inflation: the Trispectrum
We perform the analysis of the trispectrum of curvature perturbations
generated by the interactions characterizing a general theory of single-field
inflation obtained by effective field theory methods. We find that
curvature-generated interaction terms, which can in general give an important
contribution to the amplitude of the four-point function, show some new
distinctive features in the form of their trispectrum shape-function. These
interesting interactions are invariant under some recently proposed symmetries
of the general theory and, as shown explicitly, do allow for a large value of
the trispectrum.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figure
The XMM Cluster Survey: testing chameleon gravity using the profiles of clusters
The chameleon gravity model postulates the existence of a scalar field that couples with matter to mediate a fifth force. If it exists, this fifth force would influence the hot X-ray emitting gas filling the potential wells of galaxy clusters. However, it would not influence the clusters weak lensing signal. Therefore, by comparing X-ray and weak lensing profiles, one can place upper limits on the strength of a fifth force. This technique has been attempted before using a single, nearby cluster (Coma, z = 0.02). Here we apply the technique to the stacked profiles of 58 clusters at higher redshifts (0.1 < z < 1.2), including 12 new to the literature, using X-ray data from the XMM Cluster Survey and weak lensing data from the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Lensing Survey. Using a multiparameter Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis, we constrain the two chameleon gravity parameters (beta and phiâ). Our fits are consistent with general relativity, not requiring a fifth force. In the special case of f(R) gravity (where beta = &surd;{1/6}), we set an upper limit on the background field amplitude today of |fR0| < 6 Ă 10-5 (95 per cent CL). This is one of the strongest constraints to date on |fR0| on cosmological scales. We hope to improve this constraint in future by extending the study to hundreds of clusters using data from the Dark Energy Survey
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