1,006 research outputs found
Z-protected glutamic acid-based biodegradable thermoplastic and thermosetting polyesters: Synthesis and characterization
Emerging technologies for monitoring behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
(c) 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are complex array of symptoms that have devastating impact on patients, carers and their loved ones. In this paper we argue that with the combined use of pervasive computing and big data, we could make significant progress in the diagnosis of the causes of BPSD, monitoring response to treatment and helping in the prevention of these symptoms. We review the available technologies, such as Cloud computing and context aware systems, and how they could help in managing and hopefully preventing the Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Power Spectrum of Velocity Fluctuations in the Universe
We investigate the power spectrum of velocity fluctuations in the universe,
, starting from four different measures of velocity: (1) the power
spectrum of velocity fluctuations from peculiar velocities of galaxies; (2) the
rms peculiar velocity of galaxy clusters; (3) the power spectrum of velocity
fluctuations from the power spectrum of density fluctuations in the galaxy
distribution; (4) and the bulk velocity from peculiar velocities of galaxies.
We show that measures (1) and (2) are not consistent with each other and either
the power spectrum from peculiar velocities of galaxies is overestimated or the
rms cluster peculiar velocity is underestimated. The amplitude of velocity
fluctuations derived from the galaxy distribution (measure 3) depends on the
parameter . We estimate the parameter on the basis of measures
(2) and (4). The power spectrum of velocity fluctuations from the galaxy
distribution in the Stromlo-APM redshift survey is consistent with the observed
rms cluster velocity and with the observed large-scale bulk flow when the
parameter is in the range 0.4-0.5. In this case the value of the
function at wavelength Mpc is km s
and the rms amplitude of the bulk flow at the radius Mpc is km s. The velocity dispersion of galaxy systems originates mostly
from the large-scale velocity fluctuations with wavelengths Mpc.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 493, in press: 23 pages, uses AAS Latex,
and 14 separate postscript figure
A modal model for diffraction gratings
A description of an algorithm for a rather general modal grating calculation
is presented. Arbitrary profiles, depth, and permittivity are allowed. Gratings
built up from sub-gratings are allowed, as are coatings on the sidewalls of
lines, and arbitrary complex structure. Conical angles and good conductors are
supported
Steps toward the power spectrum of matter. I.The mean spectrum of galaxies
We calculate the mean power spectrum of galaxies using published power
spectra of galaxies and clusters of galaxies. On small scales we use the power
spectrum derived from the 2-dimensional distribution of APM galaxies, on large
scales we use power spectra derived from 3-dimensional data for galaxy and
cluster samples. Spectra are reduced to real space and to the amplitude of the
power spectrum of APM galaxies. Available data indicate the presence of two
different populations in the nearby Universe. Clusters of galaxies sample a
relatively large region in the Universe where rich, medium and poor
superclusters are well represented. Their mean power spectrum has a spike on
scale 120 h^{-1}Mpc, followed by an approximate power-law spectrum of index n =
-1.9 towards small scales. The power spectrum found from LCRS and IRAS 1.2 Jy
surveys is flatter around the maximum, which may represent regions of the
Universe with medium-rich and poor superclusters.Comment: LaTex (sty files added), 35 pages, 5 PostScript figures and Table
with mean power spectrum embedded, Astrophysical Journal (accepted
CIRCULAR DICHROISM OF LIGHT-HARVESTING COMPLEXES FROM PURPLE PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA
The CD spectra of a range of antenna complexes from several different species of purple photosynthetic bacteria were recorded in the wavelength range of 190 to 930 nm. Analysis of the far UV CD (190 to 250 nm) showed that in each case except for the B800-850 from Chr. vinosum the secondary structure of the light-harvesting complexes contains a large amount of α-helix (50%) and very little 0-pleated sheet. This confirms the predictions of the group of Zuber of a high a-helical content based upon consideration of the primary structures of several antenna apoproteins. The CD spectra from the carotenoids and the bacteriochlorophylls show considerable variations depending upon the type of antenna complex. The different amplitude ratios in the CD spectrum for the bacteriochlorophyll Qy, Qx and Soret bands indicate not only different degrees of exciton coupling, but also a strong and variable hyperchromism (Scherz and Parson, 1984a, b)
Preliminary Characterization of Voltage-Activated Whole-Cell Currents in Developing Human Vestibular Hair Cells and Calyx Afferent Terminals
We present preliminary functional data from human vestibular hair cells and primary afferent calyx terminals during fetal development. Whole-cell recordings were obtained from hair cells or calyx terminals in semi-intact cristae prepared from human fetuses aged between 11 and 18Â weeks gestation (WG). During early fetal development (11â14 WG), hair cells expressed whole-cell conductances that were qualitatively similar but quantitatively smaller than those observed previously in mature rodent type II hair cells. As development progressed (15â18 WG), peak outward conductances increased in putative type II hair cells but did not reach amplitudes observed in adult human hair cells. Type I hair cells express a specific low-voltage activating conductance, G(K,L). A similar current was first observed at 15 WG but remained relatively small, even at 18 WG. The presence of a âcollapsingâ tail current indicates a maturing type I hair cell phenotype and suggests the presence of a surrounding calyx afferent terminal. We were also able to record from calyx afferent terminals in 15â18 WG cristae. In voltage clamp, these terminals exhibited fast inactivating inward as well as slower outward conductances, and in current clamp, discharged a single action potential during depolarizing steps. Together, these data suggest the major functional characteristics of type I and type II hair cells and calyx terminals are present by 18 WG. Our study also describes a new preparation for the functional investigation of key events that occur during maturation of human vestibular organs
A Unified Account of the Moral Standing to Blame
Recently, philosophers have turned their attention to the question, not when a given agent is blameworthy for what she does, but when a further agent has the moral standing to blame her for what she does. Philosophers have proposed at least four conditions on having âmoral standingâ:
1. Oneâs blame would not be âhypocriticalâ.
2. One is not oneself âinvolved inâ the target agentâs wrongdoing.
3. One must be warranted in believing that the target is indeed blameworthy for the wrongdoing.
4. The targetâs wrongdoing must some of âoneâs businessâ.
These conditions are often proposed as both conditions on one and the same thing, and as marking fundamentally different ways of âlosing standing.â Here I call these claims into question. First, I claim that conditions (3) and (4) are simply conditions on different things than are conditions (1) and (2). Second, I argue that condition (2) reduces to condition (1): when âinvolvementâ removes someoneâs standing to blame, it does so only by indicating something further about that agent, viz., that he or she lacks commitment to the values that condemn the wrongdoerâs action. The result: after we clarify the nature of the non-hypocrisy condition, we will have a unified account of moral standing to blame. Issues also discussed: whether standing can ever be regained, the relationship between standing and our "moral fragility", the difference between mere inconsistency and hypocrisy, and whether a condition of standing might be derived from deeper facts about the "equality of persons"
Measuring the galaxy power spectrum with future redshift surveys
Precision measurements of the galaxy power spectrum P(k) require a data
analysis pipeline that is both fast enough to be computationally feasible and
accurate enough to take full advantage of high-quality data. We present a
rigorous discussion of different methods of power spectrum estimation, with
emphasis on the traditional Fourier method, the linear (Karhunen-Loeve; KL),
and quadratic data compression schemes, showing in what approximations they
give the same result. To improve speed, we show how many of the advantages of
KL data compression and power spectrum estimation may be achieved with a
computationally faster quadratic method. To improve accuracy, we derive
analytic expressions for handling the integral constraint, since it is crucial
that finite volume effects are accurately corrected for on scales comparable to
the depth of the survey. We also show that for the KL and quadratic techniques,
multiple constraints can be included via simple matrix operations, thereby
rendering the results less sensitive to galactic extinction and mis-estimates
of the radial selection function. We present a data analysis pipeline that we
argue does justice to the increases in both quality and quantity of data that
upcoming redshift surveys will provide. It uses three analysis techniques in
conjunction: a traditional Fourier approach on small scales, a pixelized
quadratic matrix method on large scales and a pixelized KL eigenmode analysis
to probe anisotropic effects such as redshift-space distortions.Comment: Major revisions for clarity. Matches accepted ApJ version. 23 pages,
with 2 figs included. Color figure and links at
http://www.sns.ias.edu/~max/galpower.html (faster from the US), from
http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~max/galpower.html (faster from Europe) or
from [email protected]
Constraints on Galaxy Bias, Matter Density, and Primordial Non--Gausianity from the PSCz Galaxy Redshift Survey
We compute the bispectrum for the \IRAS PSCz catalog and find that the galaxy
distribution displays the characteristic signature of gravity. Assuming
Gaussian initial conditions, we obtain galaxy biasing parameters
and , with no sign of
scale-dependent bias for h/Mpc. These results impose stringent
constraints on non-Gaussian initial conditions. For dimensional scaling models
with statistics, we find N>49, which implies a constraint on
primordial skewness .Comment: 4 pages, 3 embedded figures, uses revtex style file, minor changes to
reflect published versio
- âŠ