Euclid : Cosmological forecasts from the void size function

Peer reviewe

Multiple Description Coding Using Data Hiding and Regions of Interest for Broadcasting Applications

We propose an innovative scheme for multiple description coding (MDC) with regions of interest (ROI) support to be adopted in high-quality television. The scheme proposes to split the stream into two separate descriptors and to preserve the quality of the region of interest, even in case one descriptor is completely lost. The residual part of the frame (the background) is instead modeled through a checkerboard pattern, alternating the strength of the quantization. The decoder is provided with the necessary side-information to reconstruct the frame properly, namely, the ROI parameters and location, via a suitable data hiding procedure. Using data hiding, reconstruction parameters are embedded in the transform coefficients, thus allowing an improvement in PSNR of the single descriptions at the cost of a negligible overhead. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the algorithm has been implemented in two different scenarios, using the reference H.264/AVC codec and an MJPEG framework to evaluate the performance in absence of motion-compensated frames on 720p video sequences

Aerosol mass and black carbon concentrations, a two year record at NCO-P (5079 m, Southern Himalayas)

Aerosol mass and the absorbing fraction are important variables, needed to constrain the role of atmospheric particles in the Earth radiation budget, both directly and indirectly through CCN activation. In particular, their monitoring in remote areas and mountain sites is essential for determining source regions, elucidating the mechanisms of long range transport of anthropogenic pollutants, and validating regional and global models. Since March 2006, aerosol mass and black carbon concentration have been monitored at the Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid, a permanent high-altitude research station located in the Khumbu valley at 5079 m a.s.l. below Mt. Everest. The first two-year averages of PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>1−10</sub> mass were 1.94 μg m<sup>−3</sup> and 1.88 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, with standard deviations of 3.90 μg m<sup>−3</sup> and 4.45 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively, while the black carbon concentration average is 160.5 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, with a standard deviation of 296.1 ng m<sup>−3</sup>. Both aerosol mass and black carbon show well defined annual cycles, with a maximum during the pre-monsoon season and a minimum during the monsoon. They also display a typical diurnal cycle during all the seasons, with the lowest particle concentration recorded during the night, and a considerable increase during the afternoon, revealing the major role played by thermal winds in influencing the behaviour of atmospheric compounds over the high Himalayas. The aerosol concentration is subject to high variability: in fact, as well as frequent "background conditions" (55% of the time) when BC concentrations are mainly below 100 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, concentrations up to 5 μg m<sup>−3</sup> are reached during some episodes (a few days every year) in the pre-monsoon seasons. The variability of PM and BC is the result of both short-term changes due to thermal wind development in the valley, and long-range transport/synoptic circulation. At NCO-P, higher concentrations of PM<sub>1</sub> and BC are mostly associated with regional circulation and westerly air masses from the Middle East, while the strongest contributions of mineral dust arrive from the Middle East and regional circulation, with a special contribution from North Africa and South-West Arabian Peninsula in post-monsoon and winter season

Sex-mediated changes in foraging behaviour according to breeding stage in a monomorphic seabird adapted to rural habitats

In contrast to sexually size-dimorphic species, monomorphic ones rarely show sexual differences in foraging behaviour as such variations have been primarily attributed to dissimilar body size. To investigate this aspect, we analysed foraging behaviour in breeding gull-billed terns, Gelochelidon nilotica, a monomorphic seabird adapted to rural habitats. We equipped 19 breeding birds with GPS devices and assessed differences in foraging behaviour and habitat use according to sex and breeding stage. Foraging trip distance and duration and daily frequencies were influenced by both breeding stage and sex, with females, but not males, performing closer, more frequent and shorter duration trips during chick rearing than incubation. Females, but not males, increased the repeatability of foraging metrics from incubation to chick rearing, while both sexes increased individual foraging site fidelity between the two breeding stages. Agricultural fields were the most exploited habitat for both sexes, but females made more use of aquatic habitats than males, especially during chick rearing. By foraging in different ways and in different habitats, the breeding pair can provide a wider range of prey types to their offspring, maximizing the chances of delivering high quantity and quality of food items under different environmental conditions. Our work provides new additional evidence of sex differences in foraging behaviour of monomorphic species, while highlighting the need to better understand underlying mechanisms driving foraging niche divergence and the consequences for fitness

liquid biopsy as tool to monitor and predict clinical benefit from chemotherapy ct and immunotherapy it in advanced non small cell lung cancer ansclc a prospective study

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Determination of galangin in commercial extracts of Alpinia officinarum by RP-HPLC-DAD

Alpinia officinarum has been used by long time in the traditional medicine and several commercial extracts containing it are available on the market. In this paper a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (RP-HPLC-DAD) method for Alpinia officinarum preparations was proposed using galangin as a marker. The quantification was undertaken by a combination of RP-HPLC-DAD. The LC system employed a Gemini Phenomenex RP-18 column with phosphoric acid, tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile as mobile phase and detection at 267 nm. The method validation was throughout satisfactory. The determination coefficient was r2 = 0.998 with LOD 0.48 µg mL-1 and LOQ 1.59 µg mL-1 The results of precision (RSD < 2.82) and accuracy (99.9 %, 100.4 %, 102.2 %) with . RSD less than 2.7 %, were satisfactory. The analytical method was applied to commercial extracts, and was suitable to provide qualitative and quantitative information for the quality control to commercial preparations.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Analysis of Summer Ozone Observations at a High Mountain Site in Central Italy (Campo Imperatore, 2388 m a.s.l.)

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is an important atmospheric pollutant and climate forcer. The Mediterranean basin is a hot-spot region in terms of short-term O3 distribution, with frequent episodes of high tropospheric O3, especially during summer. To improve the characterisation of summer O3 variability in the Mediterranean area, during the period 6–27 August 2009 an experimental campaign was conducted at Campo Imperatore, Mt Portella (CMP), a high mountain site (2,388 m a.s.l.) located in the central Italian Apennines. As deduced from analysis of atmospheric circulation, the measurement site was significantly affected by air masses originating over the Mediterranean basin, which affected the measurement site for 32 % of the time. Analysis of average values and diurnal and day-to-day variability revealed that CMP O3 observations (average value 60.0 ± 5.1 ppbv) were comparable with measurements at other European mountain stations, indicating a prevalent effect of meteorological conditions and atmospheric transport on the synoptic scale. In fact, only a small "reverse" diurnal variation typically characterises diurnal O3 variability because of local thermal wind circulation, which sporadically favours transport of air masses rich in O3 from the foothill regions. Statistical analysis of five-day back-trajectory ensembles indicates that synoptic-scale air-mass transport from the Mediterranean Sea usually results in decreasing O3 concentrations at CMP, whereas the highest hourly O3 values are mostly associated with air masses from central continental Europe, eastern Europe, and northern Italy. High O3 concentrations are also related to downward air-mass transport from higher altitudes. Comparison of in-situ O3 variability with tropospheric O3 satellite-based measurements reveals similar features of the two data sets. Together with the results from back-trajectory analysis, this indicates that CMP measurements might usefully improve characterisation of broad-scale O3 variability over the central Mediterranean basin

Is there a standard procedure for assessing and providing assistive devices for people with neuro-disabling conditions in United Kingdom? A nation-wide survey

Background: Assistive devices are currently provided to people with neuro-disabling conditions to promote or maintain independence in activities of daily living. However, it is unclear whether assessment procedures performed by health care professionals to guide the provision of assistive devices are standardized.  Objective: To explore the assessment and service-delivery processes of assistive devices for people with multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson's disease experiencing physical disability by health care professionals in the United Kingdom.  Methods: A survey was conducted among UK health care professionals working with people with neuro-disabling conditions. Descriptive and content analyses were used to code survey data.  Results: In total, 231 health care professionals completed the survey: 93 occupational therapists, 136 physiotherapists and 2 assistant practitioners. Less than half of the respondents (46%) reported use of local, national, or combined guidelines when assessing a service user's suitability or need for assistive devices. When guidelines were used, they were not consistent and not specifically for assistive devices. The respondents stated that when users were allocated small and portable assistive devices, they were supplied within four weeks. This period increased for large equipment, major home adaptions or if external specialist services and/or funding was needed.  Conclusions: Standardized operating procedures for assistive device provision are not being carried out within the UK. Variable access to assistive devices supplied by the state indicates inequity across regions. Future research should explore potential benefits of developing standardized assessment procedures for the provision of assistive devices and devise methods to reduce current variability in service delivery