3,606 research outputs found
Antiproton annihilation on light nuclei at very low energies
The recent experimental data obtained by the OBELIX group on D and
He total annihilation cross sections are analyzed. The combined
analysis of these data with existing antiprotonic atom data allows, for the
first time, the imaginary parts of the S-wave scattering lengths for the two
nuclei to be extracted. The obtained values are: for D and for He. This
analysis indicates an unexpected behaviour of the imaginary part of the
-nucleus S-wave scattering length as a function of the atomic weight
A: (p) > (D) > (He).Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
Flood circulation in oligomictic lakes: an undervalued reason for restriction of zooplankton production [Translation from: Memorie dell'Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia Dott.Marco de Marchi 22 9-52, 1967]
Dormancy has been observed in several species of Cyclops. Animals in dormancy are characterised by almost complete inactivity of the main appendages and sluggish intestinal peristalsis. In Cyclops vicinus dormancy can take place in copepod stages III (19%), IV (78%) and V (3%) but one and the same animal only in one developmental stage. The author gives his own results between frequency of dormancy and photoperiod (20 C, 1000 lux). He concludes that dormancy in C. vicinus can be influenced by day length and can be ended prematurely by short day length
Early indication of decompensated heart failure in patients on home-telemonitoring: a comparison of prediction algorithms based on daily weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance
Background: Heart Failure (HF) is a common reason for hospitalization. Admissions might be prevented by early detection of and intervention for decompensation. Conventionally, changes in weight, a possible measure of fluid accumulation, have been used to detect deterioration. Transthoracic impedance may be a more sensitive and accurate measure of fluid accumulation.
Objective: In this study, we review previously proposed predictive algorithms using body weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance (NITTI) to predict HF decompensations.
Methods: We monitored 91 patients with chronic HF for an average of 10 months using a weight scale and a wearable bio-impedance vest. Three algorithms were tested using either simple rule-of-thumb differences (RoT), moving averages (MACD), or cumulative sums (CUSUM).
Results: Algorithms using NITTI in the 2 weeks preceding decompensation predicted events (P<.001); however, using weight alone did not. Cross-validation showed that NITTI improved sensitivity of all algorithms tested and that trend algorithms provided the best performance for either measurement (Weight-MACD: 33%, NITTI-CUSUM: 60%) in contrast to the simpler rules-of-thumb (Weight-RoT: 20%, NITTI-RoT: 33%) as proposed in HF guidelines.
Conclusions: NITTI measurements decrease before decompensations, and combined with trend algorithms, improve the detection of HF decompensation over current guideline rules; however, many alerts are not associated with clinically overt decompensation
Inversion of electrical conductivity data with Tikhonov regularization approach: some considerations
Electromagnetic induction measurements, which are generally used to determine lateral variations of apparent
electrical conductivity, can provide quantitative estimates of the subsurface conductivity at different depths.
Quantitative inference about the Earth's interior from experimental data is, however, an ill-posed problem. Using
the generalised McNeill's theory for the EM38 ground conductivity meter, we generated synthetic apparent
conductivity curves (input data vector) simulating measurements at different heights above the soil surface. The
electrical conductivity profile (the Earth model) was then estimated solving a least squares problem with Tikhonov
regularization optimised with a projected conjugate gradient algorithm. Although the Tikhonov approach improves
the conditioning of the resulting linear system, profile reconstruction can be surprisingly far from the desired true
one. On the contrary, the projected conjugate gradient provided the best solution without any explicit regularization
( a= 0) of the objective function of the least squares problem. Also, if the initial guess belongs to the image of the
system matrix, Im(A), we found that it provides a unique solution in the same subspace Im(A)
The megalithic building of S.Erasmo di Cesi: architecture, astronomy, and landscape
Abstract. One of the most enigmatic megalithic buildings of Italy is the structure which lies on the S. Erasmo hill near Cesi, in Umbria, a huge complex encompassing an area of around 8000 square meters and enclosed by refined cyclopean walls. Although its date is uncertain, suggested dates comprise the Iron Age and archaic period, down to the third century B.C. The building’s function is also uncertain. Usually identified as a fortified structure, in fact there is a megalithic platform at the southern end of the enclosure which could have served as foundation of a temple or palace and, from the top of Monte Torre Maggiore, a complex of temples dating from the fourth century B.C. overlooks the hill. Similar combinations of megalithic buildings resting half-way to temples placed on high peaks are known to exist. In order to clarify the function of this structure and its position in relation to the surrounding landscape, with particular attention to its visibility and to the directions of visibility from the complex, as well as to the possible astronomical alignments, we present a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the S. Erasmo complex, which includes the mapping of the sky at the various possible epochs of construction, the creation of a digital model of the landscape in forms of digital maps using Geographic Information System technologies, and a 3D model using various 3D software packages
Breakdown rates and macroinvertebrate colonisation of alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves in an acid lake (Lake Orta, N Italy), before, during and after a liming intervention
To test the effectiveness of the liming intervention on Lake Orta, the speed of leaves decay and of colonisation processes by macrobenthonic fauna were studied on alder leaves (Alnus glutinosa) placed on the bottom of the lake and recovered after appropriate time intervals. Experiments were performed at two sites (North and South) and two depths (-3 and –18 m), during three successive winters: 1988-1989 (pre-liming), 1989-1990 (liming), 1990-1991 (post-liming). Two main results emerged: 1) alder leaves, which are known to have a medium to high decaying speed in a number of aquatic environments, behave in Lake Orta as a low speed species. Decaying processes in the three years are significantly different only in station N3, where the mean breakdown rate in 1988- 1989 is more than twice that measured in the two subsequent winters. 2) The species richness of colonising benthic fauna is low: the community is made up almost exclusively of Chironomidae, which form 70 to 100% of the whole population; among them, the genus Phenopsectra is always present, while Tanytarsus was collected only during the first year and in the less deep sampling sites. The mean population abundances were higher before liming
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