The Axis-Ratio Distribution of Galaxy Clusters in the SDSS-C4 Catalog as a New Cosmological Probe

We analyze the C4 catalog of galaxy clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to investigate the axis-ratio distribution of the projected two dimensional cluster profiles. We consider only those objects in the catalog whose virial mass is close to 10^{14}h^{-1}M_{sun}, with member galaxies within the scale radius 1000 kpc. The total number of such objects turns out to be 336. We also derive a theoretical distribution by incorporating the effect of projection onto the sky into the analytic formalism proposed recently by Lee, Jing, & Suto. The theoretical distribution of the cluster axis-ratios is shown to depend on the amplitude of the linear power spectrum (sigma_8) as well as the density parameter (Omega_{m}). Finally, fitting the observational data to the analytic distribution with Omega_{m} and sigma_{8} as two adjustable free parameters, we find the best-fitting value of sigma_{8}=(1.01 +/- 0.09)(Omega_{m}/0.6)^{(0.07 +/- 0.02) +0.1 Omega_{m}}$. It is a new sigma_{8}-Omega_{m} relation, different from the previous one derived from the local abundance of X-ray clusters. We expect that the axis-ratio distribution of galaxy clusters, if combined with the local abundance of clusters, may put simultaneous constraints on sigma_{8} and Omega_{m}.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ, 17 pages, 3 figures, improved analysis, more discussion on the validity and the caveats of the mode

Professional Skills and Competence for Safe and Effective Procedural Sedation in Children: Recommendations Based on a Systematic Review of the Literature

Objectives. To investigate which skills and competence are imperative to assure optimal effectiveness and safety of procedural sedation (PS) in children and to analyze the underlying levels of evidence. Study Design and methods. Systematic review of literature published between 1993 and March 2009. Selected papers were classified according to their methodological quality and summarized in evidence-based conclusions. Next, conclusions were used to formulate recommendations. Results. Although the safety profiles vary among PS drugs, the possibility of potentially serious adverse events and the predictability of depth and duration of sedation define the imperative skills and competence necessary for a timely recognition and appropriate management. The level of effectiveness is mainly determined by the ability to apply titratable PS, including deep sedation using short-acting anesthetics for invasive procedures and nitrous oxide for minor painful procedures, and the implementation of non-pharmacological techniques. Conclusions. PS related safety and effectiveness are determined by the circumstances and professional skills rather than by specific pharmacologic characteristics. Evidence based recommendations regarding necessary skills and competence should be used to set up training programs and to define which professionals can and cannot be credentialed for PS in children

Intact but empty forests? Patterns of hunting-induced mammal defaunation in the tropics

Tropical forests are increasingly degraded by industrial logging, urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure, with only 20% of the remaining area considered intact. However, this figure does not include other, more cryptic but pervasive forms of degradation, such as overhunting. Here, we quantified and mapped the spatial patterns of mammal defaunation in the tropics using a database of 3,281 mammal abundance declines from local hunting studies. We simultaneously accounted for population abundance declines and the probability of local extirpation of a population as a function of several predictors related to human accessibility to remote areas and species’ vulnerability to hunting. We estimated an average abundance decline of 13% across all tropical mammal species, with medium-sized species being reduced by >27% and large mammals by >40%. Mammal populations are predicted to be partially defaunated (i.e., declines of 10%–100%) in ca. 50% of the pantropical forest area (14 million km2), with large declines (>70%) in West Africa. According to our projections, 52% of the intact forests (IFs) and 62% of the wilderness areas (WAs) are partially devoid of large mammals, and hunting may affect mammal populations in 20% of protected areas (PAs) in the tropics, particularly in West and Central Africa and Southeast Asia. The pervasive effects of overhunting on tropical mammal populations may have profound ramifications for ecosystem functioning and the livelihoods of wild-meat-dependent communities, and underscore that forest coverage alone is not necessarily indicative of ecosystem intactness. We call for a systematic consideration of hunting effects in (large-scale) biodiversity assessments for more representative estimates of human-induced biodiversity loss

Combined effects of land use and hunting on distributions of tropical mammals

Land use and hunting are 2 major pressures on biodiversity in the tropics. Yet, their combined impacts have not been systematically quantified at a large scale. We estimated the effects of both pressures on the distributions of 1884 tropical mammal species by integrating species’ range maps, detailed land-use maps (1992 and 2015), species-specific habitat preference data, and a hunting pressure model. We further identified areas where the combined impacts were greatest (hotspots) and least (coolspots) to determine priority areas for mitigation or prevention of the pressures. Land use was the main driver of reduced distribution of all mammal species considered. Yet, hunting pressure caused additional reductions in large-bodied species’ distributions. Together, land use and hunting reduced distributions of species by 41% (SD 30) on average (year 2015). Overlap between impacts was only 2% on average. Land use contributed more to the loss of distribution (39% on average) than hunting (4% on average). However, hunting reduced the distribution of large mammals by 29% on average; hence, large mammals lost a disproportional amount of area due to the combination of both pressures. Gran Chaco, the Atlantic Forest, and Thailand had high levels of impact across the species (hotspots of area loss). In contrast, the Amazon and Congo Basins, the Guianas, and Borneo had relatively low levels of impact (coolspots of area loss). Overall, hunting pressure and human land use increased from 1992 to 2015 and corresponding losses in distribution increased from 38% to 41% on average across the species. To effectively protect tropical mammals, conservation policies should address both pressures simultaneously because their effects are highly complementary. Our spatially detailed and species-specific results may support future national and global conservation agendas, including the design of post-2020 protected area targets and strategies

Biological-Effect Modeling of Radioimmunotherapy for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma: Determination of Model Parameters

Treatment with Tositumomab and 131I tositumomab anti-CD20 radioimmunotherapy (Bexxar) yields a nonradioactive antibody antitumor response (the so-called cold effect) and a radiation response. Numerical parameter determination by least-squares (LS) fitting was implemented for more accurate parameter estimates in equivalent biological-effect calculations. Methods: One hundred thirty-two tumors in 37 patients were followed using five or six SPECT/CT studies per patient, three each (typical) post-tracer (0.2 GBq) and post-therapy (?3 GBq) injections. The SPECT/CT data were used to calculate position- and time-dependent dose rates and antibody concentrations for each tumor. CT-defined tumor volumes were used to track tumor volume changes. Combined biological-effect and cell-clearance models were fit to tumor volume changes. Optimized parameter values determined using LS fitting were compared to previous fitted values that were determined by matching calculated to measured tumor volume changes using visual assessment. Absorbed dose sensitivity (α) and cold-effect sensitivity (?p) parameters were the primary fitted parameters, yielding equivalent biological-effect (E) values. Results: Individual parameter uncertainties were approximately 10% and 30% for α and ?p, respectively. LS versus previously fit parameter values were highly correlated, although the averaged α value decreased and the averaged ?p value increased for the LS fits compared to the previous fits. Correlation of E with 2-month tumor shrinkage data was similar for the two fitting techniques. The LS fitting yielded improved fit quality and likely improved parameter estimation.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140326/1/cbr.2012.1467.pd

The Low-Level Control System for the CERN PS Multi-Turn Extraction Kickers

To reduce the beam losses when preparing high intensity proton beam for the CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) facility, a new Multi-Turn extraction (MTE) scheme has been implemented in the PS, to replace the present Continuous Transfer (CT) to the SPS. Industrial off-the-shelf components have been used for the low-level part of the MTE kicker control system. National Instruments PXI systems are used to control the high voltage pulse generators and a SIEMENS programmable logic controller (PLC) handles the centralised oil cooling and gas insulation sub-system

Band - Weg interactie

De huidige infrastructuur van wegen waarover men zich snel en comfortabel kan verplaatsen is niet meer weg te denken uit onze maatschappij. Twee “componenten” die hierbij een belangrijke rol spelen zijn het wegdek en de band. Het contact tussen band en wegdek is mede bepalend voor de veiligheid. De rolweerstand beïnvloedt het brandstofverbruik en dus de uitstoot van uitlaatgassen. De mechanische eigenschappen en geometrie van het wegdek en de band bepalen de geluidproductie (verkeersgeluid) maar ook de mate van slijtage van beide componenten (fijn stof). Er wordt onderzoek gedaan om de veiligheid, de rolweerstand, de duurzaamheid e.d. van banden en wegdek te verbeteren. In veel gevallen wordt dit door de bandenindustrie en de wegdekproducenten afzonderlijk gedaan. Op deze manier streeft men er naar om te komen tot een optimale band en een optimaal wegdek. Maar wat optimaal is voor de band hoeft nog niet optimaal voor het wegdek te zijn. Vandaar dat voor een echt optimale combinatie van band en wegdek, onderzoek moet worden gedaan naar de gekoppelde situatie of wel naar band-weg interactie. Om dit te realiseren hebben 4 onderzoeksgroepen van de Universiteit Twente met ervaring op het gebied van wegdekken of banden de krachten gebundeld teneinde band-wegdek interactie (modelmatig en experimenteel) integraal te kunnen onderzoeke

The Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Effects of Early-Life Stress and Dietary Fatty Acids on Later-Life Central and Metabolic Outcomes in Mice

Early-life stress (ELS) leads to increased vulnerability for mental and metabolic disorders. We have previously shown that a low dietary ω-6/ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio protects against ELS-induced cognitive impairments. Due to the importance of the gut microbiota as a determinant of long-term health, we here study the impact of ELS and dietary PUFAs on the gut microbiota and how this relates to the previously described cognitive, metabolic, and fatty acid profiles. Male mice were exposed to ELS via the limited bedding and nesting paradigm (postnatal day (P)2 to P9 and to an early diet (P2 to P42) with an either high (15) or low (1) ω-6 linoleic acid to ω-3 alpha-linolenic acid ratio. 16S rRNA was sequenced and analyzed from fecal samples at P21, P42, and P180. Age impacted α- and β-diversity. ELS and diet together predicted variance in microbiota composition and affected the relative abundance of bacterial groups at several taxonomic levels in the short and long term. For example, age increased the abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes, while it decreased Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia; ELS reduced the genera RC9 gut group and Rikenella, and the low ω-6/ω-3 diet reduced the abundance of the Firmicutes Erysipelotrichia. At P42, species abundance correlated with body fat mass and circulating leptin (e.g., Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria taxa) and fatty acid profiles (e.g., Firmicutes taxa). This study gives novel insights into the impact of age, ELS, and dietary PUFAs on microbiota composition, providing potential targets for noninvasive (nutritional) modulation of ELS-induced deficits. IMPORTANCE Early-life stress (ELS) leads to increased vulnerability to develop mental and metabolic disorders; however, the biological mechanisms leading to such programming are not fully clear. Increased attention has been given to the importance of the gut microbiota as a determinant of long-term health and as a potential target for noninvasive nutritional strategies to protect against the negative impact of ELS. Here, we give novel insights into the complex interaction between ELS, early dietary ω-3 availability, and the gut microbiota across ages and provide new potential targets for (nutritional) modulation of the long-term effects of the early-life environment via the microbiota

Energy demand patterns

Meeting: Energy Research Priorities Seminar, 8-10 Aug. 1983, Ottawa, ON, C