Strictly singular operators and isomorphisms of Cartesian products of power series spaces

V. P. Zahariuta, in 1973, used the theory of Fredholm operators to develop a method to classify Cartesian products of locally convex spaces. In this work we modify his method to study the isomorphic classification of Cartesian products of the kind E0p(a)×E¥ q(b) where 1 £ p,q £ ¥, p ¹ q, a = (an)n=1¥ and b = (bn)n=1¥ are sequences of positive numbers and E0p(a), E¥ q (b) are respectively lp-finite and lq-infinite type power series spaces

Zeugma as the provenance of 12 mosaic fragments at Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio is the current owner of 12 sections of floor mosaic dating to the 2nd-3rd c. A.D. Purchased by the university in 1965, these mosaic fragments were believed to be from the site of Antioch. In 2010-11, the mosaics were conserved and installed in BGSU’s Wolfe Center. In the following year the first-named author, organizing a symposium to celebrate the new display of the mosaics, invited R. Molholt to be the keynote speaker. During the course of preparing their respective papers for the symposium, she and Molholt uncovered evidence that an Antioch provenance for the mosaics was most unlikely, and Molholt determined that the mosaic fragments were almost certainly from the site of Zeugma. We offer here a preliminary publication of the fragments, along with evidence to support our proposed provenance

Identification of field dwarfs and giants in the second Radial Velocity Experiment Data Release

The second Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) Data Release (DR2) derives log g values. However, we present a simpler and cleaner method of identifying dwarfs and giants by using only magnitudes, which does not require spectroscopic analysis. We confirm the method presented in an earlier paper, with which we estimate the number of dwarfs and giants using their positions in the J–V two-magnitude diagram, by applying it to RAVE DR2. It is effective in estimating the number of dwarfs and giants at J–H > 0.4 compared to RAVE’s log g values. For J–H≤ 0.4, where dwarfs and subgiants show a continuous transition in the J magnitude histogram, we used the Besançon Galaxy model predictions to statistically isolate giants. The percentages of giants for red stars and for the whole sample are 85 and 34 per cent, respectively. If we add the subgiants, the percentage of evolved stars for the whole sample increases to 59 per cent. For the first time in the literature, we have analysed the effect of CHISQ on RAVE’s log g values (CHISQ is the penalized χ2 from RAVE’s technique of finding an optimal match between the observed spectrum and synthetic spectra to derive stellar parameters). Neither the CHISQ values nor the signal-to-noise ratio bias the RAVE log g values. Therefore, the method of identifying dwarfs and giants using the two-magnitude diagram has been verified against an unbiased data set

Seroepidemiological Investigation of Toxocariasis in the Isparta Region of Turkey

Background: Toxocariasis is a common disease around the world. Our objective was to determine Toxocara seroprevalence in humans in the city of Isparta, Southwest Turkey, in respect of some determinants such as age, socio-economic level, residence in city center or rural area etc.Methods: Five hundred and thirty four individual participants from Isparta center and 85 from Asagi Gokdere village were included in the study. T. cati specific antibodies were ana­lyzed using excretory-secretory (ES)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Results: T. cati antibodies were detected as positive in 73 (13.6%) of 534 samples which were collected from subjects living in the city center and 24 (28.2%) of 85 samples from Asagi Gokdere village. Toxocara seropositivity was detected among 15.6% of whole study group. The seroprevalence of toxocariasis was significantly higher among subjects from vil­lage than in subjects from city center (P=0.001). While gender, high school education, source of the water which is used, family income and geophagia/eating nail behaviors were the fea­tures which were detected as being associated with toxocariasis seropositivity (odds ratios= 0.5; 6.52; 3.61; 0.43; 0.13 respectively), owning dogs or cats and hand washing were de­tected as being not associated with toxocariasis seropositivity (P > 0.05). Furthermore, Toxo­cara seropositivity was significantly higher among subjects in 0-10 than >40 year-old group (P=0.02).Conclusion: It can be suggested that untreated lost pet population, environmental contamination, and way of life have influence on the epidemiology of toxocariasis

Transformations between WISE, 2MASS, SDSS and BVRI photometric systems: I. Transformation equations for dwarfs

We present colour transformations for the conversion of the W1 and W2 magnitudes of WISE photometric system to the Johnson-Cousins' BVRI, SDSS (gri), and 2MASS (JHK_s) photometric systems, for dwarfs. The W3 and W4 magnitudes were not considered due to their insufficient signal to noise ratio (S/N). The coordinates of 825 dwarfs along with their BVRI, gri, and JHK_s data, taken from Bilir et al. (2008) were matched with the coordinates of stars in the preliminary data release of WISE (Wright et al., 2010) and a homogeneous dwarf sample with high S/N ratio have been obtained using the following constraints: 1) the data were dereddened, 2) giants were identified and excluded from the sample, 3) sample stars were selected according to data quality, 4) transformations were derived for sub samples of different metallicity range, and 5) transformations are two colour dependent. These colour transformations, coupled with known absolute magnitudes at shorter wavelenghts, can be used in space density evaluation for the Galactic (thin and thick) discs, at distances larger than the ones evaluated with JHK_s photometry.Comment: 16 pages, including 5 figures and 7 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

The effects of oxygen supplementation on growth and survival of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in different stocking densities

In this study, the effects of oxygen supplementation in different stocking densities of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on the specific growth rates (SGR), feed conversion ratios (FCR) and survival rates were investigated in a commercial-scale culture system. High density cultures were maintained in a total of nine (12 m^3) flow-through systems supplemented with O2. Initial stocking rates for 3 different treatments with three replicates were 26.88±0.30 (low density), 36.72±0.26 (medium density) and 55.03±0.14kg m^-3 (high density), corresponding to a total of 5800, 8000 and 12000 fish/tank, respectively. Water flow rate for each tank was maintained at 11±1.1 L sec^-1 (660 L min^-1) over the study period for each raceway, and the temperature was 12.3±0.8°C throughout the experimental period. At the end of the study, there were no significant differences in the survival rates and SGR among treatments (p>0.05). However, FCR was negatively affected in the high density treatment (p<0.05). Overall, our results indicated that oxygen supplementation supported fish growth and survival in high stocking densities. However, high production cost is prohibitive and further studies are required to reduce costs

Local stellar kinematics from RAVE data: III. Radial and Vertical Metallicity Gradients based on Red Clump Stars

We investigate radial and vertical metallicity gradients for a sample of red clump stars from the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) Data Release 3. We select a total of 6781 stars, using a selection of colour, surface gravity and uncertainty in the derived space motion, and calculate for each star a probabilistic (kinematic) population assignment to a thin or thick disc using space motion and additionally another (dynamical) assignment using stellar vertical orbital eccentricity. We derive almost equal metallicity gradients as a function of Galactocentric distance for the high probability thin disc stars and for stars with vertical orbital eccentricities consistent with being dynamically young, e_v<=0.07, i.e. d[M/H]/dR_m = -0.041(0.003) and d[M/H]/dR_m = -0.041(0.007) dex/kpc. Metallicity gradients as a function of distance from the Galactic plane for the same populations are steeper, i.e. d[M/H]/dz_{max} = -0.109(0.008) and d[M/H]/dz_{max} = -0.260(0.031) dex/kpc, respectively. R_m and z_{max} are the arithmetic mean of the perigalactic and apogalactic distances, and the maximum distance to the Galactic plane, respectively. Samples including more thick disc red clump giant stars show systematically shallower abundance gradients. These findings can be used to distinguish between different formation scenarios of the thick and thin discs.Comment: 27 pages, including 15 figures and 4 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Stronger prejudices are associated with decreased model-based control

Background: Prejudices against minorities can be understood as habitually negative evaluations that are kept in spite of evidence to the contrary. Therefore, individuals with strong prejudices might be dominated by habitual or "automatic" reactions at the expense of more controlled reactions. Computational theories suggest individual differences in the balance between habitual/model-free and deliberative/model-based decision-making. Methods: 127 subjects performed the two Step task and completed the blatant and subtle prejudice scale. Results: By using analyses of choices and reaction times in combination with computational modeling, subjects with stronger blatant prejudices showed a shift away from model-based control. There was no association between these decision-making processes and subtle prejudices. Conclusion: These results support the idea that blatant prejudices toward minorities are related to a relative dominance of habitual decision-making. This finding has important implications for developing interventions that target to change prejudices across societies

Turner syndrome and associated problems in turkish children: A multicenter study

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population. Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014. Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosi) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%. Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespan. © Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology

Linking like with like: optimising connectivity between environmentally-similar habitats

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To minimise the effect of fragmentation on biodiversity, connectivity between otherwise isolated habitats should be promoted. However, the identification of linkages favouring connectivity is not trivial. Firstly, they compete with other land uses, so they need to be cost-efficient. Secondly, linkages for one species might be barriers for others, so they should effectively account for distinct mobility requirements. Thirdly, detailed information on the auto-ecology of most of the species is lacking, so linkages need being defined based on surrogates. In order to address these challenges we develop a framework that (a) identifies environmentally-similar habitats; (b) identifies environmental barriers (i.e., regions with a very distinct environment from the areas to be linked), and; (c) determines cost-efficient linkages between environmentally-similar habitats, free from environmental barriers. The assumption is that species with similar ecological requirements occupy the same environments, so environmental similarity provides a rationale for the identification of the areas that need to be linked. A variant of the classical minimum Steiner tree problem in graphs is used to address c). We present a heuristic for this problem that is capable of handling large datasets. To illustrate the framework we identify linkages between environmentally-similar protected areas in the Iberian Peninsula. The Natura 2000 network is used as a positive ‘attractor’ of links while the human footprint is used as ‘repellent’ of links.Wecompare the outcomes of our approach with cost-efficient networks linking protected areas that disregard the effect of environmental barriers. As expected, the latter achieved a smaller area covered with linkages, but with barriers that can significantly reduce the permeability of the landscape for the dispersal of some species