Extragalactic Radio Sources and the WMAP Cold Spot

We detect a dip of 20-45% in the surface brightness and number counts of NVSS sources smoothed to a few degrees at the location of the WMAP cold spot. The dip has structure on scales of approximately 1-10 degrees. Together with independent all-sky wavelet analyses, our results suggest that the dip in extragalactic brightness and number counts and the WMAP cold spot are physically related, i.e., that the coincidence is neither a statistical anomaly nor a WMAP foreground correction problem. If the cold spot does originate from structures at modest redshifts, as we suggest, then there is no remaining need for non-Gaussian processes at the last scattering surface of the CMB to explain the cold spot. The late integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, already seen statistically for NVSS source counts, can now be seen to operate on a single region. To create the magnitude and angular size of the WMAP cold spot requires a ~140 Mpc radius completely empty void at z<=1 along this line of sight. This is far outside the current expectations of the concordance cosmology, and adds to the anomalies seen in the CMB.Comment: revised version, ApJ, in pres

Draft versus finished sequence data for DNA and protein diagnostic signature development

Sequencing pathogen genomes is costly, demanding careful allocation of limited sequencing resources. We built a computational Sequencing Analysis Pipeline (SAP) to guide decisions regarding the amount of genomic sequencing necessary to develop high-quality diagnostic DNA and protein signatures. SAP uses simulations to estimate the number of target genomes and close phylogenetic relatives (near neighbors or NNs) to sequence. We use SAP to assess whether draft data are sufficient or finished sequencing is required using Marburg and variola virus sequences. Simulations indicate that intermediate to high-quality draft with error rates of 10(−3)–10(−5) (∼8× coverage) of target organisms is suitable for DNA signature prediction. Low-quality draft with error rates of ∼1% (3× to 6× coverage) of target isolates is inadequate for DNA signature prediction, although low-quality draft of NNs is sufficient, as long as the target genomes are of high quality. For protein signature prediction, sequencing errors in target genomes substantially reduce the detection of amino acid sequence conservation, even if the draft is of high quality. In summary, high-quality draft of target and low-quality draft of NNs appears to be a cost-effective investment for DNA signature prediction, but may lead to underestimation of predicted protein signatures

Hydrogen atom in a spherical well: linear approximation

We discuss the boundary effects on a quantum system by examining the problem of a hydrogen atom in a spherical well. By using an approximation method which is linear in energy we calculate the boundary corrections to the ground-state energy and wave function. We obtain the asymptotic dependence of the ground-state energy on the radius of the well.Comment: Revised version to appear in European Journal of Physic

Evidence of Rapid Phenocryst Growth of Olivine During Ascent in Basalts From the Big Pine Volcanic Field: Application of Olivine‐Melt Thermometry and Hygrometry at the Liquidus

The Quaternary Big Pine (BP) volcanic field in eastern California is notable for the occurrence of mantle xenoliths in several flows. This points to rapid ascent of basalt through the crust and precludes prolonged storage in a crustal reservoir. In this study, the hypothesis of phenocryst growth during ascent is tested for several basalts (13–7 wt% MgO) and shown to be viable. Phenocrysts of olivine and clinopyroxene frequently display diffusion‐limited growth textures, and clinopyroxene compositions are consistent with polybaric crystallization. When the most Mg‐rich olivine in each sample is paired with the whole‐rock composition, resulting Fe2+‐MgKD(olivine‐melt) values (0.31–0.36) match those calculated from literature models (0.32–0.36). Application of a Mg‐ and a Ni‐based olivine‐melt thermometer from the literature, both calibrated on the same experimental data set, leads to two sets of temperatures that vary linearly with whole‐rock MgO wt%. Because the Ni thermometer is independent of water content, it provides the actual temperature at the onset of olivine crystallization (1247–1097°C), whereas the Mg thermometer gives the temperature under anhydrous conditions and thus allows ΔT (=TMg − TNi = depression of liquidus due to water) to be obtained. The average ΔT for all samples is ~59°C, which is consistent with analyzed water contents of 1.5–3.0 wt% in olivine‐hosted melt inclusions from the literature. Because the application of olivine‐melt thermometry/hygrometry at the liquidus only requires microprobe analyses of olivine combined with whole‐rock compositions, it can be used to obtain large global data sets of the temperature and water contents of basalts from different tectonic settings.Plain Language SummaryBasaltic lavas are a window into their mantle source regions, which is why it is important to determine their temperatures and water contents. In this study, a new approach that allows these two parameters to be quantified is demonstrated for basalts from the Big Pine volcanic field, CA. They were targeted because many contain chunks of dense mantle rocks, which precludes storage in a crustal magma chamber and points to direct ascent from the mantle to the surface along fractures. Two hypotheses are proposed, tested, and shown to be viable in this study: (1) olivine crystallized in the basalts during ascent, and (2) the most Mg‐rich olivine analyzed in each basalt represents the first olivine to grow during ascent. This enables the most Mg‐rich olivine to be paired with the whole‐rock composition in the application of olivine‐melt thermometry and hygrometry. The results match those from published, independent studies. The success of this approach paves the way for the attainment of large, high‐quality data sets for basalts from a wide variety of tectonic settings. This, in turn, may allow global variations in mantle temperature and volatile content to be mapped in greater detail and better understood.Key PointsRapid phenocryst growth occurs during ascent in Mg‐rich basalts (some carry mantle xenoliths) from the Big Pine volcanic field, CAThe most Mg‐rich olivine can be paired with the whole‐rock composition to apply olivine‐melt thermometry/hygrometry at the liquidusLarge, high‐quality data sets on the temperature and water content of basalts from various tectonic settings can be obtained by this methodPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163434/3/ggge22329-sup-0001-2020GC009264-SI.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163434/2/ggge22329.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163434/1/ggge22329_am.pd

Fetal MRI in management of complicated meconium ileus: Prenatal and surgical imaging

Objective To review fetal MRI cases surgically proven to have meconium ileus (MI) and obstruction, describe the common fetal MRI findings that distinguish cases of complicated MI, and to compare these findings with surgical images and perinatal outcomes. Method We performed a retrospective review of all fetal MRI examinations and the corresponding medical record from our tertiary care children's hospital over an 18‐month period. Postnatal management and outcomes were reviewed for these patients, and those patients with surgical or postmortem diagnosis of complicated MI were included in the study. Results Our analysis revealed 7 cases. In this cohort, 3 imaging features of the fetal bowel were repeatedly seen: gradient appearance of intraluminal bowel contents, abnormally localized meconium signal, and collapsed appearance of the colon on MRI. Surgical diagnoses confirmed MI. All live‐born infants underwent surgical repair. Conclusion Fetal MRI should be included in the diagnostic algorithm of any pregnancy where fetal bowel obstruction is suspected to better risk stratify patients

Dispelling the myths of online education: learning via the information superhighway

There continues to be a perception that online education is inferior to traditional education. In the U.S. online learning is more developed than in the U.K. This paper provides insights into a U.S. provision and takes a close look at what are perceived as weaknesses of on line learning and argues that these are not necessarily inherent weaknesses of this form of educational delivery. Then, results of two major studies, undertaken in the U.S. are provided comparing the effectiveness of online education to traditional education as perceived by current MBA students and past graduates. Results of these studies suggest that students of MBA modules and MBA graduates perceive the quality and effectiveness of online education to be similar to, if not higher than, the quality and effectiveness of traditional modules and programmes

Universal properties of correlation transfer in integrate-and-fire neurons

One of the fundamental characteristics of a nonlinear system is how it transfers correlations in its inputs to correlations in its outputs. This is particularly important in the nervous system, where correlations between spiking neurons are prominent. Using linear response and asymptotic methods for pairs of unconnected integrate-and-fire (IF) neurons receiving white noise inputs, we show that this correlation transfer depends on the output spike firing rate in a strong, stereotyped manner, and is, surprisingly, almost independent of the interspike variance. For cells receiving heterogeneous inputs, we further show that correlation increases with the geometric mean spiking rate in the same stereotyped manner, greatly extending the generality of this relationship. We present an immediate consequence of this relationship for population coding via tuning curves