Magnification Bias Corrections to Galaxy-Lensing Cross-Correlations

Galaxy-galaxy or galaxy-quasar lensing can provide important information on the mass distribution in the Universe. It consists of correlating the lensing signal (either shear or magnification) of a background galaxy/quasar sample with the number density of a foreground galaxy sample. However, the foreground galaxy density is inevitably altered by the magnification bias due to the mass between the foreground and the observer, leading to a correction to the observed galaxy-lensing signal. The aim of this paper is to quantify this correction. The single most important determining factor is the foreground redshift z: the correction is small if the foreground galaxies are at low redshifts but can become non-negligible for sufficiently high redshifts. For instance, we find that for the multipole l=1000, the correction is above 1%*(5s-2)/b for z<0.37, and above 5%*(5s-2)/b for z<0.67, where s is the number count slope of the foreground sample, and b its galaxy bias. These considerations are particularly important for geometrical measures, such as the Jain and Taylor ratio or its generalization by Zhang et al. Assuming (5s-2)/b=1, we find that the foreground redshift should be limited to z<0.45 in order to avoid biasing the inferred dark energy equation of state w by more than 5%, and that even for a low foreground redshift (< 0.45), the background samples must be well separated from the foreground to avoid incurring a bias of similar magnitude. Lastly, we briefly comment on the possibility of obtaining these geometrical measures without using galaxy shapes, using instead magnification bias itself.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures; v2: minor revisions, as accepted for publication in Physical Review

Food composition and feeding ecology of the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) in Egypt

Food composition of the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes populations in different habitats in Egypt is investigated based on the analysis of stomach contents. The analysis of 70 stomach contents demonstrates that the food of Red Fox is highly diverse and includes rodents, birds, reptiles,fishes, insects and other arthropods, fruits and other vegetable material. Certain individuals seem to also feed on carrion. Diet composition shows seasonal and geographical variations that are apparently associated with changes in the availability of different food items. The results clearlyshow that the Red Fox is an opportunistic omnivore, capable of adapting to a great variety of dietary compositions

Penentuan Konduktivitas Listrik dan Kajian Kualitas Air Sungai Siak Menggunakan Metode Jembatan Wheatstone

A research has been done on the determination of the electrical conductivity and water quality of Siak River water using a Wheatstone bridge method in the location around the rubber factory of PT. RICRY. The research was begun by taking samples of the Siak river water were taken on five points which have been determined at a distance of 10 meters from PT. RICRY when was low and high tide. Based on the length data of wire L1 and L1, it could be determined the value of electrical resistance, resistivity and electrical conductivity. The result showed that the value of highest electrical conductivity of the river water when the sea water was at high tide was 58,513 . 10-6 (Ωm)-1, while the electrical conductivity of the river water at low tide was 41,879 . 10-6 (Ωm)-1. A decent water for consumption has an electrical conductivity of (300 -500).106(Ωm)-1(Mailinda, U. 2011). Based on that standard electrical conductivity, Siak river water in the research location when the sea water high tide and low tide are not worthy to be consumed because of too small value compared to the standard value of electrical conductivity

Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome Causing Hypovolemic Shock and Methemoglobinemia

A 5-week-old previously healthy male presented with vomiting and diarrhea leading to hypovolemic shock and profound metabolic acidosis. He was subsequently found to have severe methemoglobinemia. The acidosis and shock improved with fluid resuscitation and methemoglobinemia was successfully treated with methylene blue. An extensive workup, including evaluations for infectious and metabolic etiologies, was unremarkable. However, a detailed dietary history revealed a recent change in diet, supporting a diagnosis of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). We present this case to highlight the importance of considering FPIES in an infant with vomiting and diarrhea, in the setting of a recent dietary change, leading to profound dehydration, metabolic acidosis, and methemoglobinemia. Diagnosis of FPIES, although difficult to make and one of exclusion, can be potentially life-saving

Noncommutative QED and the Lifetimes of Ortho and Para Positronium

We examine the implications of including corrections associated with the noncommutative extension of quantum electrodynamics - NCQED - to the decays of the ortho and para positronium (\Trip and \Sing) ground states. In NCQED, the well known charge conjugation argument restricting \Trip decays to an odd number of photons and \Sing decays to an even number of photons no longer obtains. Instead, the dominant two photon decay mode of \Sing is accompanied by a three photon mode. The dominant three photon decay mode of \Trip receives a NCQED correction, but there is no corresponding two photon decay mode in the weak binding limit. These corrections to the $P_s$ three photon decay mode have a different energy distribution, but their effect is too small to explain any discrepancy between the observed and calculated values of the \Trip lifetime.Comment: Additional reference

Design of Lightweight Fills for Road Embankments on Boston\u27s Central Artery/Tunnel Project

The use of lightweight-fill materials for highway construction increased significantly worldwide during the 1990s. Predominant with this trend was the increased use of cellular geosynthetics (geofoams and geocombs), especially block-molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam, on highway and bridge embankments. EPS geofoam is increasingly recognized as an important tool for reducing overall cost of highways through accelerated construction . Thus, it was appropriate that lightweight-fill materials, mostly EPS, were the materials of choice on Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project, commonly known as the Big Dig . EPS highway embankments have been constructed, as part of a cost-and schedule-initiative, replacing the original design concepts for eight transition highway structures on a recent CA/T construction contract. The use of EPS-block geofoam on the CA/T included the first-time implementation of newly developed NCHRP research and AASHTO based design guidelines, material/product specifications as well as formulating innovative solutions to several technical challenges. These challenges centered on relatively tall and slender EPS fills placed over soft soils subjected to periodic flooding and seismic loading within a crowded urban environment. This paper presents a detailed outline of the design process together with the impacts of the buoyancy conditions and seismic loading on the design of EPS highway embankments. Also included is a discussion of other lightweight-fill materials such as geocombs (considered but not used) and expanded-shale aggregate (used in limited quantities)

Positronium Hyperfine Splitting in Non-commutative Space at the Order α6\alpha^6

We obtain positronium Hyperfine Splitting owing to the non-commutativity of space and show that, in the leading order, it is proportional to $\theta \alpha^6$ where, $\theta$ is the parameter of non-commutativity. It is also shown that spatial non-commutativity splits the spacing between $n=2$ triplet excited levels $E(2^3S_1)\to E(2^3P_2)$ which provides an experimental test on the non-commutativity of space.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Current knowledge in pathophysiology and management of Budd-Chiari syndrome and non-cirrhotic non-tumoral splanchnic vein thrombosis

Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) and non-cirrhotic non-tumoral portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) are two rare disorders, with several similarities that are categorized under the term splanchnic vein thrombosis. Both disorders are frequently associated with an underlying pro-thrombotic disorder. They can cause severe portal hypertension and usually affect oung patients, negatively influencing life expectancy when the diagnosis and treatment is not done at an early stage. Yet, they have specific features that require individual considerations. The current review will focus on the available knowledge on pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of both entities. BCS is defined as the obstruction of hepatic venous outflow regardless of its causative mechanism or level of obstruction. This obstruction can be traced to the small hepatic venules up to the entrance of the inferior vein cava (IVC) into the right atrium. Hepatic outflow obstruction related to cardiac disease, pericardial disease or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome have different pathophysiological and clinical implications and are excluded from this definition. BCS is classified as primary when the obstruction originates in the vein and thrombosis is the main cause, or secondary when the vein is externally compressed (abscess, tumor). The focus of this review is on primary BCS. NCPVT refers to the presence of a thrombus in the main portal vein trunk and/or the left or right intrahepatic portal vein branches that may extend to the splenic vein and/or the superior or inferior mesenteric veins. Isolated splenic or mesenteric vein thrombosis are out of the scope of this review.Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V

Biologically Informed Individual-Based Network Model for Rift Valley Fever in the US and Evaluation of Mitigation Strategies

Citation: Scoglio, C. M., Bosca, C., Riad, M. H., Sahneh, F. D., Britch, S. C., Cohnstaedt, L. W., & Linthicum, K. J. (2016). Biologically Informed Individual-Based Network Model for Rift Valley Fever in the US and Evaluation of Mitigation Strategies. Plos One, 11(9), 26. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162759Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa with periodic outbreaks in human and animal populations. Mosquitoes are the primary disease vectors; however, Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) can also spread by direct contact with infected tissues. The transmission cycle is complex, involving humans, livestock, and multiple species of mosquitoes. The epidemiology of RVFV in endemic areas is strongly affected by climatic conditions and environmental variables. In this research, we adapt and use a network-based modeling framework to simulate the transmission of RVFV among hypothetical cattle operations in Kansas, US. Our model considers geo-located livestock populations at the individual level while incorporating the role of mosquito populations and the environment at a coarse resolution. Extensive simulations show the flexibility of our modeling framework when applied to specific scenarios to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of mosquito control and livestock movement regulations in reducing the extent and intensity of RVF outbreaks in the United States