Spatial features of non-thermal SZ effect in galaxy clusters

We investigate the spatial behaviour of the total comptonization parameter $y_{tot}$ evaluated for a galaxy cluster containing two population of electrons: the thermal population, with energy around some KeV and whose trace is evident in the X-ray emission of the ICM (Intra-Cluster Medium), and the relativistic population, which give rise to the radio halo emission found in several clusters of galaxies. We present the first results obtained from our analysis showing that there are remarkable features in such spatial trend, which might throw a new light in understanding the cluster internal processes.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings of the 2k1bc workshop ""Experimental comsology @ millimetre wavelengths", july 9-12 2001, Breuil-Cervinia, Ital

ADAGSS: Automatic Dataset Generation for Semantic Segmentation

A common issue in medical deep learning research is the creation of dataset for training the neural networks. Medical data collection is also tied-up by privacy laws and even if a lot of medical data are available, often their elaboration can be time demanding. This problem can be avoided using neural networks architectures that can achieve a good predicting precision with few images (e.g. U-Net). In the case of semantic segmentation, the dataset generation is even more cumbersome since it requires the creation of segmentation masks manually. Some automatic ground-truth creation techniques may be employed like filtering, thresholding and Self Organized Maps1 (SOM). These automatic methods can be very powerful and useful, but they always have a bottle-neck phase: data validation. Due to algorithm reliability (that sometimes can fail), data needs to be validated manually before they can be included in a dataset for training. In this work, we propose a method to automatize this phase by moving manual intervention to an easier task: instead of creating masks and then validate them manually, we train a convolutional neural network to classify segmentation quality. Therefore, the validation is performed automatically. An initial manual phase is still required, but the classification task requires a smaller number of elements in the dataset that will feed a network employed for classification. After this phase, similar dataset creations will require less effort. This procedure is based on the fact that to obtain a high classification precision, fewer data are required than the data that are needed to obtain high precision in semantic segmentation. High classification score, can automatize validation procedure in dataset creation, being able to discard failure case in dataset creation. Being able to produce bigger dataset in less time can led to higher precision in semantic segmentation

The Non-Thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect in Clusters of Galaxies

In this paper we provide a general derivation of the non-thermal (as well as of the thermal) SZ effect in galaxy clusters which is exact in the Thomson limit to any approximation order in the optical depth. Such a general derivation is obtained using the full relativistic formalism and overcoming the limitations of the Kompaneets and of the single scattering approximations. To have a consistent description of the SZ effect in clusters containing non-thermal phenomena, we also evaluate in a consistent way - for the first time - the total SZ effect produced by a combination of thermal and non-thermal electron populations residing in the same environment, like is the case in radio-halo clusters. We discuss both the spectral and the spatial features of the total SZ effect and we provide specific predictions for a well studied radio-halo cluster like A2163. We also discuss the overall SZ effect produced by a combination of different thermal populations residing in the cluster atmosphere. In this context, we discuss how the combined observations of the thermal and non-thermal SZ effect provide constraints on the spectrum of the relativistic electron population and, in turn, on the presence and on the origin of non-thermal phenomena (radio-halo, hard X-ray, EUV excesses) occurring in galaxy clusters

Definitional skills as a bridge towards school achievement

none4noThe general aim of the current study was to investigate the role of definitional skills in promoting primary school achievement (third- to fifth-graders) and how school learning may shape defini-tional skills. Marks from four school-subjects, linguistic (Italian and English) and scientific (Math and Science) were collected as well as scores in a Definitional Task. These two domains were cho-sen as they clearly entail the two different definition types, that is lexicographic and scientific. Re-sults indicated that scientific school-subject marks are more predictive of definitional skills than linguistic school-marks are. The opposite direction (i.e., how definitional skills are predictive of school achievement) appears less clear. In sum, results, yet preliminary, suggests that definitional skills represent a bridge towards school achievement as they promote good marks in all disci-plines. Moreover, definitional skills are predicted from levels of competence acquired especially in scientific school-subjects that request a higher degree of formal/organized learning. It is then of primary importance to promote interaction-integration between these two kind of concepts via formal schooling.openArtuso C., Palladino P.,Valentini P., Belacchi C.Artuso, C.; Palladino, P.; Valentini, P.; Belacchi, C

Effects of semantic relationship and preactivation on memory updating.

Semantic relationship modulates working memory (WM) processes by promoting recall but impairing recognition. Updating is a core mechanism of WM responsible for its stability and flexibility; it allows maintenance of relevant information while removing no-longer relevant one. To our knowledge, no studies specifically investigated how WM updating may benefit from the processing of semantically related material. In the current study, two experiments were run with this aim. In Experiment 1, we found an advantage for semantically related words (vs. unrelated) regardless of their association type (i.e., taxonomic or thematic). A second experiment was run boosting semantic association through preactivation. Findings replicated those of Experiment 1 suggesting that preactivation was effective and improved semantic superiority. In sum, we demonstrated that long-term semantic associations benefitted the updating process, or more generally, overall WM function. In addition, pre-activating semantic nodes of a given word appears likely a process supporting WM and updating; thus, this may be the mechanism favoring word process and memorization in a semantically related text

Hypervelocity Star Candidates in the SEGUE G & K Dwarf Sample

We present 20 candidate hypervelocity stars from the Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE) G and K dwarf samples. Previous searches for hypervelocity stars have only focused on large radial velocities; in this study we also use proper motions to select the candidates. We determine the hypervelocity likelihood of each candidate by means of Monte Carlo simulations, considering the significant errors often associated with high proper motion stars. We find that nearly half of the candidates exceed their escape velocities with at least 98% probability. Every candidate also has less than a 25% chance of being a high-velocity fluke within the SEGUE sample. Based on orbits calculated using the observed six-dimensional positions and velocities, few, if any, of these candidates originate from the Galactic center. If these candidates are truly hypervelocity stars, they were not ejected by interactions with the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. This calls for a more serious examination of alternative hypervelocity-star ejection scenarios.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, published in ApJ, this version includes all figures as intende

Silencing of the Hsf gene, the transcriptional regulator of A. gambiae male accessory glands, inhibits the formation of the mating plug in mated females and disrupts their monogamous behaviour

Discovering the molecular factors that shape the mating behaviour and the fertility of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, the principal vector of human malaria, is regarded as critical to better understand its reproductive success as well as for identifying new leads for malaria control measures. In A. gambiae mating induces complex behavioural and physiological changes in the females, including refractoriness to subsequent mating and induction of egg-laying. In other insects including Drosophila a group of proteins named Accessory gland proteins (Acps), produced by males and transferred with sperm to the female reproductive tract, have been implicated in this post-mating response. Although Acps represent a set of promising candidates for unravelling the mating physiology, their role in inducing behavioural changes in mated A. gambiae females remains largely unknown. In this work, we demonstrate that a down-regulation of a large fraction of Acp genes via silencing of the Acp regulating transcription factor Hsf, abolishes the formation of mating plug in mated females and fails to induce refractoriness of mated female to subsequent inseminations. A significant fraction of females mated to Hsf silenced males (66%) failed to receive the mating plug though seminal fluid had been transferred as documented by the presence of spermatozoa in the female sperm storage organ. Furthermore, nearly all females (95%) mated to HSF-silenced males were re-inseminated when exposed to males carrying EGPF marked sperm. Our findings provide evidence showing that Acp genes regulated by the transcription factor HSF play a key role in the function of the male accessory glands

Impactos das mudanças climáticas sobre a distribuição espacial da podridão cinzenta em videira no Brasil.

Resumo: A podridão cinzenta, causada pelo fungo Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea), existente em praticamente todos os vinhedos do mundo, causa sérias reduções na qualidade e na quantidade de uva produzida. O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os impactos das mudanças climáticas na favorabilidade de ocorrência da podridão cinzenta da videira no Brasil. Foram utilizadas informações de temperatura média e período de molhamento foliar do período de referência (1961 ? 1990) e do futuro (2011 ? 2040, 2041 ? 2070 e 2071 ? 2100) para o Brasil, dos cenários A2 e B1, organizadas no banco de dados em Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG) Idrisi 32. A favorabilidade foi obtida aplicando-se equações lógicas, de acordo com as condições e restrições de período de molhamento foliar e temperatura média, resultando em mapas de distribuição espacial da podridão cinzenta no Brasil. De modo geral, é esperado um quadro positivo para o futuro, pois as áreas onde a condição para o desenvolvimento da doença era muito favorável diminuem, e as áreas de condição desfavorável apresentam um aumento principalmente durante o inverno. Abstract; The gray mold, caused by the fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea), which exists in almost all vineyards in the world, causes serious reductions in quality and quantity of grapes produced. The study aimed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the favorability of occurrence of gray rot of grapevine in Brazil. Information was collected from average temperature and leaf wetness of the reference period (1961 - 1990) and future (2011 - 2040, 2041 - 2070 and 2071 - 2100) for Brazil, organized in the database in a Geographic Information System (GIS) Idrisi 32. The favorability was obtained by applying logic equations, according to the conditions and restrictions of leaf wetness and average temperature, resulting in maps of spatial distribution of gray mold in Brazil. In general, it can be expected a positive picture for the future, because the areas where the condition for the development of the disease was very favorable decreased, and the areas of unfavorable condition showed an increase mainly during the winter

Functionally graded plate fracture analysis using the field boundary element method

This paper describes the Field Boundary Element Method (FBEM) applied to the fracture analysis of a 2D rectangular plate made of Functionally Graded Material (FGM) to calculate Mode I Stress Intensity Factor (SIF). The case study of this Field Boundary Element Method is the transversely isotropic plane plate. Its material presents an exponential variation of the elasticity tensor depending on a scalar function of position, i.e., the elastic tensor results from multiplying a scalar function by a constant taken as a reference. Several examples using a parametric representation of the structural response show the suitability of the method that constitutes a Stress Intensity Factor evaluation of Functionally Graded Materials plane plates even in the case of more complex geometries