Effects of the complex mass distribution of dark matter halos on weak lensing cluster surveys

Gravitational lensing effects arise from the light ray deflection by all of the mass distribution along the line of sight. It is then expected that weak lensing cluster surveys can provide us true mass-selected cluster samples. With numerical simulations, we analyze the correspondence between peaks in the lensing convergence $\kappa$-map and dark matter halos. Particularly we emphasize the difference between the peak $\kappa$ value expected from a dark matter halo modeled as an isolated and spherical one, which exhibits a one-to-one correspondence with the halo mass at a given redshift, and that of the associated $\kappa$-peak from simulations. For halos with the same expected $\kappa$, their corresponding peak signals in the $\kappa$-map present a wide dispersion. At an angular smoothing scale of $\theta_G=1\hbox{arcmin}$, our study shows that for relatively large clusters, the complex mass distribution of individual clusters is the main reason for the dispersion. The projection effect of uncorrelated structures does not play significant roles. The triaxiality of dark matter halos accounts for a large part of the dispersion, especially for the tail at high $\kappa$ side. Thus lensing-selected clusters are not really mass-selected. (abridged)Comment: ApJ accepte

Results Visualization in the XBrain XML Interface to a Relational Database

The University of Washington's XBrain application is used to dynamically export relational data over the web in XML format, as a prelude to data exchange. We describe additional tools to aid the human user in visualizing the dynamically generated XML results returned by the web application

On controllability of neuronal networks with constraints on the average of control gains

Control gains play an important role in the control of a natural or a technical system since they reflect how much resource is required to optimize a certain control objective. This paper is concerned with the controllability of neuronal networks with constraints on the average value of the control gains injected in driver nodes, which are in accordance with engineering and biological backgrounds. In order to deal with the constraints on control gains, the controllability problem is transformed into a constrained optimization problem (COP). The introduction of the constraints on the control gains unavoidably leads to substantial difficulty in finding feasible as well as refining solutions. As such, a modified dynamic hybrid framework (MDyHF) is developed to solve this COP, based on an adaptive differential evolution and the concept of Pareto dominance. By comparing with statistical methods and several recently reported constrained optimization evolutionary algorithms (COEAs), we show that our proposed MDyHF is competitive and promising in studying the controllability of neuronal networks. Based on the MDyHF, we proceed to show the controlling regions under different levels of constraints. It is revealed that we should allocate the control gains economically when strong constraints are considered. In addition, it is found that as the constraints become more restrictive, the driver nodes are more likely to be selected from the nodes with a large degree. The results and methods presented in this paper will provide useful insights into developing new techniques to control a realistic complex network efficiently

Minimizing cones associated with isoparametric foliations

Associated with isoparametric foliations of unit spheres, there are two classes of minimal surfaces $-$ minimal isoparametric hypersurfaces and focal submanifolds. By virtue of their rich structures, we find new series of minimizing cones. They are cones over focal submanifolds and cones over suitable products among these two classes. Except in low dimensions, all such cones are shown minimizing

Prospect of Making Ceramic Shell Mold by Ceramic Laser Fusion

Manufacturing prototypical castings by conventional investment casting not only takes several weeks, but also is prohibitively expensive. Z Corporation in USA, EOS GmbH and IPT in Germany employ the techniques of 3DP and SLS respectively to make directly ceramic shell molds for metal castings. Although those techniques dramatically reduce time expenditure and production cost, each layer cannot be thinner than 50 µm because of using powder to pave layers. The dimensional accuracy and roughness of the castings still cannot meet the specification of precision casting. Therefore, in this paper the ceramic laser fusion (CLF) was used to pave layers. Each layer can be thinner than 25 µm, so that the step effect can be diminished and the workpiece surface can be smoother; drying time will be shortened dramatically. Moreover, the inherent solid-state support formed by green portion has the capability of preventing upward and downward deformation of the scanned cross sections. In order to make shell mold which meets the roughness requirement (Rq=3.048µm) of the precision casting, following issues have to be further studied: (1) design a proper ceramic shell mold structure, (2) design a paving chamber for paving a complete green layer which can be easily collapsed, (3) cut down drying time, (4) optimize laser scanning process parameters with the smallest distortion, (5) eliminate sunken area, (6) reduce layer thickness to less than13µm, (7) control power to guarantee the energy uniformly absorbed by workpiece, and (8) develop a method which can directly clean green portion in cavity from gate.Mechanical Engineerin

Zika virus promotes CCN1 expression via the CaMKIIα-CREB pathway in astrocytes.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in the human central nervous system (CNS) causes Guillain-Barre syndrome, cerebellum deformity, and other diseases. Astrocytes are immune response cells in the CNS and an important component of the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, any damage to astrocytes facilitates the spread of ZIKV in the CNS. Connective tissue growth factor/Nephroblastoma overexpressed gene family 1 (CCN1), an important inflammatory factor secreted by astrocytes, is reported to regulate innate immunity and viral infection. However, the mechanism by which astrocyte viral infection affects CCN1 expression remains undefined. In this study, we demonstrate that ZIKV infection up-regulates CCN1 expression in astrocytes, thus promoting intracellular viral replication. Other studies revealed that the cAMP response element (CRE) in the CCN1 promoter is activated by the ZIKV NS3 protein. The cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), a transacting factor of the CRE, is also activated by NS3 or ZIKV. Furthermore,a specific inhibitor of CREB, i.e. SGC-CBP30, reduced ZIKV-induced CCN1 up-regulation and ZIKV replication. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation, overexpression, and knockdown studies confirmed that the interaction between NS3 and the regulatory domain of CaMKIIα could activate the CREB pathway, thus resulting in the up-regulation of CCN1 expression and enhancement of virus replication. In conclusion, the findings of our investigations on the NS3-CaMKIIα-CREB-CCN1 pathway provide a foundation for understanding the infection mechanism of ZIKV in the CNS