The CFHTLS Deep Catalog of Interacting Galaxies I. Merger Rate Evolution to z=1.2

We present the rest-frame optical galaxy merger fraction between 0.2<z<1.2, as a function of stellar mass and optical luminosity, as observed by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Deep Survey (CFHTLS-Deep). We developed a new classification scheme to identify major galaxy-galaxy mergers based on the presence of tidal tails and bridges. These morphological features are signposts of recent and ongoing merger activity. Through the visual classification of all galaxies, down to i_vega<22.2 (~27,000 galaxies) over 2 square degrees, we have compiled the CFHTLS Deep Catalog of Interacting Galaxies, with ~1600 merging galaxies. We find the merger fraction to be 4.3% +/-0.3% at z~0.3 and 19.0% +/-2.5% at z~1, implying evolution of the merger fraction going as (1+z)^m, with m=2.25 +/-0.24. This result is inconsistent with a mild or non-evolving (m4sigma level of confidence. A mild trend, where massive galaxies with M>10^10.7 M_sun are undergoing fewer mergers than less massive systems M~10^10 M_sun), consistent with the expectations of galaxy assembly downsizing is observed. Our results also show that interacting galaxies have on average SFRs double that found in non-interacting field galaxies. We conclude that (1) the optical galaxy merger fraction does evolve with redshift, (2) the merger fraction depends mildly on stellar mass, with lower mass galaxies having higher merger fractions at z<1, and (3) star formation is triggered at all phases of a merger, with larger enhancements at later stages, consistent with N-body simulations.Comment: e.g.: 17 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Customer Satisfaction, Quality in Cruise Industry

Record numbers of passengers are sailing on board cruise ships, with the industry claiming high levels of customer satisfaction. Conversely, little is known about the specific factors which make up customer satisfaction with the cruise experience. The authors examine customer satisfaction data from nearly 15,000 guests of a large U.S. cruise line to determine which aspects of the cruise experience have the greatest impact on overall satisfaction and perceptions of quality

On the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on orbifolds of revolution

Using the theory of geodesics on surfaces of revolution, we introduce the period function. We use this as our main tool in showing that any two-dimensional orbifold of revolution homeomorphic to S^2 must contain an infinite number of geometrically distinct closed geodesics. Since any such orbifold of revolution can be regarded as a topological two-sphere with metric singularities, we will have extended Bangert's theorem on the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on any smooth Riemannian two-sphere. In addition, we give an example of a two-sphere cone-manifold of revolution which possesses a single closed geodesic, thus showing that Bangert's result does not hold in the wider class of closed surfaces with cone manifold structures.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; for a PDF version see http://www.calpoly.edu/~jborzell/Publications/publications.htm

Treating depression: Psychiatric consultation in cardiology

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in coronary artery disease, and it can worsen cardiac outcomes. Also, cardiac disease predisposes patients to the development of depression. Assessment of depression is an important part of ongoing patient contacts. It can be easily done through the regular use of a self-report screening tool and the clinical interview. Treatment can consist of antidepressant use, psychotherapy and mindfulness-based group therapy. The antidepressants known as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can generally be used safely in cardiac patients. They are a mainstay in the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Individual cognitive-behavioral therapy can treat milder forms of depression and can augment antidepressant use in more severe cases. Mindfulness-based group therapy can provide patients with additional means of handling distress while offering social contact and support, both of which are important in the treatment of depression. The use of consulting psychiatric services offers the cardiologist a collaborative team approach when treating patients with depressive illnesses

Effects of Triticale-Based Diets fed in Deep-Bedded Hoop Barns on Finishing Pig Performance and Pork Quality

Triticale is a synthetic small grain that results from an intergeneric cross between durum wheat and rye. Triticale has shown potential as a feedstuff in swine diets. Producers who may find this to be an attractive crop may also raise swine in an alternative swine production system. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of triticale-based diets on pork quality and finishing pig performance of pigs reared in deep-bedded hoop barns

Effects of Triticale-Based Diets on Finishing Pig Performance and Pork Quality in Deep-Bedded Hoop Barns

Effects of triticale-based diets on finishing pig performance and pork quality in deep-bedded hoop barns were evaluated. Triticale is a synthetic small grain resulting from a cross between durum wheat and rye. The study consisted of four trials: two in winter (November 2003 through March 2004) and two in summer (May 2004 through September 2004) at the ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm, Castana, IA. Each trial consisted of six pens of ten pigs (five barrows, five gilts) in three smallscale hoop barns (6.0 × 10.8 m). Pens were randomly assigned one dietary treatment: 1) corn-soybean meal control, 2) 40% Trical 815 triticale diet (by weight) or 3) 80% Trical 815 triticale diet (by weight). The 40 and 80% triticale diets had corn and soybean meal added. Animals had ad libitum access to feed and water during the study. Pigs were started on experiment at approximately 72 kg and fed for 49 d. At the end of each trial all pigs were scanned for backfat thickness and loin muscle area. Barrows from one winter and one summer trial were evaluated for meat and fat quality and sensory evaluation of pork. End weights and ADG were greater during the winter than summer (treatment × season interaction P \u3c 0.01) and decreased as triticale inclusion increased (P \u3c 0.001). Feed intake was similar. Pigs fed the control diet had the greatest G:F, those fed the 80% triticale diet had the least, with pigs fed the 40% triticale diet having intermediate G:F. During the summer, pigs fed the control diet had more BF (P \u3c 0.05) than those fed the triticale diets. Also during summer, pigs fed the control diet had the largest loin muscle area (LMA) (47.5 ± 1.72 cm2); pigs fed the 40% triticale diet had intermediate LMA (45.5 ± 1.72 cm2) and those fed the 80% triticale diet had the smallest LMA (43.4 ± 1.73 cm2). Dietary treatment had no effect on carcass weight, BF, LMA, percentage lean of barrows or sensory evaluation or fatty acid profile of loin chops. Ultimate pH was higher (P \u3c 0.001), percentage loin purge was less (P \u3c 0.05) and shear force (kg) was less (P \u3c 0.05) during summer than winter. Total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were greater (P \u3c 0.05) and total PUFA in loins were less (P \u3c 0.01) during the winter than summer. Replacing corn with triticale in finishing pig diets in hoops slightly decreased growth performance, but did not affect pork quality. Increasing the amount of triticale in finishing pig diets decreased dietary soybean meal and dicalcium phosphate levels. This may reduce dietary costs. However, pigs fed triticale had 10% less average daily gain and 13% poorer feed conversion at the greater inclusion rate (80% of the diet). This may offset the potentially lower dietary costs. Triticale can be fed to pigs without compromising pork or fat quality. There was no difference in pork eating quality from pigs fed corn-based or triticale-based diets, according to a trained sensory evaluation panel. Further research on triticale-based swine diets is warranted. Triticale-based diets in deep-bedded hoop barns should be evaluated when dietary fat is added, as finishing pig performance may be enhanced. An economic analysis should be conducted on utilization of triticale as a feedstuff in swine diets fed to finishing pigs in deep-bedded hoop barns. From the results of this study, triticale has potential as a feed grain crop in integrated crop and livestock enterprises in the Midwest U. S

Model networks of end‐linked polydimethylsiloxane chains. II. Viscoelastic losses

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71107/2/JCPSA6-68-4-2010-1.pd

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARAQUAT ACCUMULATION AND COVALENT BINDING IN RAT LUNG SLICES

ABSTRACT: Th

CRS Insight

This report discusses the ear and hearing injuries to U.S. diplomatic staff in Cuba caused by an unknown device and subsequent investigations and diplomatic responses. The U.S. has withdrawn all nonemergency personnel from their embassy in Cuba which has brought consular functioning at the embassy to a standstill and has dismissed 15 Cuban diplomatic staff from the Cuban embassy in the United States to balance staff numbers and make the incident have equal effect on functioning of each countries respective embassies

The XFP (17-BM) Beamline for X-ray Footprinting at NSLS-II

Hydroxyl-radical mediated synchrotron X-ray footprinting (XF) is a powerful solution-state technique in structural biology for the study of macromolecular structure and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids, with several synchrotron resources available to serve the XF community worldwide. The XFP (Biological X-ray Footprinting) beamline at the NSLS-II was constructed on a three-pole wiggler source at 17-BM to serve as the premier beamline for performing this technique, providing an unparalleled combination of high flux density broadband beam, flexibility in beam morphology, and sample handling capabilities specifically designed for XF experiments. The details of beamline design, beam measurements, and science commissioning results for a standard protein using the two distinct XFP endstations are presented here. XFP took first light in 2016 and is now available for general user operations through peer-reviewed proposals. Currently, beam sizes from 450 μm × 120 μm to 2.7 mm × 2.7 mm (FWHM) are available, with a flux of 1.6 × 1016 photons s-1 (measured at 325 mA ring current) in a broadband (5-16 keV) beam. This flux is expected to rise to 2.5 × 1016 photons s-1 at the full NSLS-II design current of 500 mA, providing an incident power density of \u3e500 W mm-2 at full focus