The Correlation Function of Rich Clusters of Galaxies in CDM-like Models

We use ensembles of high-resolution CDM simulations to investigate the shape and amplitude of the two point correlation function of rich clusters. The standard scale-invariant CDM model with $\Omega=1$ provides a poor description of the clustering measured from the APM rich cluster redshift survey, which is better fitted by models with more power at large scales. The amplitudes of the rich cluster correlation functions measured from our models depend weakly on cluster richness. Analytic calculations of the clustering of peaks in a Gaussian density field overestimate the amplitude of the N-body cluster correlation functions, but reproduce qualitatively the weak trend with cluster richness. Our results suggest that the high amplitude measured for the correlation function of richness class $R \geq 2$ Abell clusters is either an artefact arising from incompleteness in the Abell catalogue, or an indication that the density perturbations in the early universe were very non-Gaussian.Comment: uuencoded compressed postscript ,MNRAS, in press, OUAST-93-1

Reconstruction of cosmological density and velocity fields in the Lagrangian Zel'dovich Approximation

We present a method for reconstructing cosmological densityn for and velocity fields using the Lagrangian Zel'dovich formalism. . The method involves finding the least action solution for straight line particle paths in an evolving density field. Our starting point is the final, evolved density , so that we are in effect carrying out the standard Zel'dovich Approximation based process in reverse. Using a simple numerical algorithm we are able to minimise the action for the trajectories of several million particles. We apply our method to the evolved density taken from N-body simulations of different cold dark matter dominated universes, testing both the prediction for the present day velocity field and for the initial density field. The method is easy to apply, reproduces the accuracy of the forward Zel'dovich Approximation, and also works directly in redshift space with minimal modification.Comment: 13 pages with only 2 (out 9) figures. MNRAS in press. New Appendix shows the relation between shell crossing and PIZA. A completed version with all 9 figures available by anonymous ftp at ftp://bessel.mps.ohio-state.edu/pub/racc/piza.ps.gz (USA) or ftp://ftp-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/pub/eg/piza3.ps.gz (UK

Weak lensing of the Lyman-alpha forest

The angular positions of quasars are deflected by the gravitational lensing effect of foreground matter. The Lyman-alpha forest seen in the spectra of these quasars is therefore also lensed. We propose that the signature of weak gravitational lensing of the forest could be measured using similar techniques that have been applied to the lensed Cosmic Microwave Background, and which have also been proposed for application to spectral data from 21cm radio telescopes. As with 21cm data, the forest has the advantage of spectral information, potentially yielding many lensed "slices" at different redshifts. We perform an illustrative idealized test, generating a high resolution angular grid of quasars (of order arcminute separation), and lensing the Lyman-alphaforest spectra at redshifts z=2-3 using a foreground density field. We find that standard quadratic estimators can be used to reconstruct images of the foreground mass distribution at z~1. There currently exists a wealth of Lya forest data from quasar and galaxy spectral surveys, with smaller sightline separations expected in the future. Lyman-alpha forest lensing is sensitive to the foreground mass distribution at redshifts intermediate between CMB lensing and galaxy shear, and avoids the difficulties of shape measurement associated with the latter. With further refinement and application of mass reconstruction techniques, weak gravitational lensing of the high redshift Lya forest may become a useful new cosmological probe.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to MNRA

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Noise Estimates for Measurements of Weak Lensing from the Lyman-alpha Forest

We have proposed a method for measuring weak lensing using the Lyman-alpha forest. Here we estimate the noise expected in weak lensing maps and power spectra for different sets of observational parameters. We find that surveys of the size and quality of the ones being done today and ones planned for the future will be able to measure the lensing power spectrum at a source redshift of z~2.5 with high precision and even be able to image the distribution of foreground matter with high fidelity on degree scales. For example, we predict that Lyman-alpha forest lensing measurement from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey should yield the mass fluctuation amplitude with statistical errors of 1.5%. By dividing the redshift range into multiple bins some tomographic lensing information should be accessible as well. This would allow for cosmological lensing measurements at higher redshift than are accessible with galaxy shear surveys and correspondingly better constraints on the evolution of dark energy at relatively early times.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, submitted to MNRA

Magnesium oxide doping reduces acoustic wave attenuation in lithium metatantalate and lithium metaniobate crystals

Single crystals of lithium metatantalate and lithium metaniobate, grown from melts having different stoichiometries and different amounts of magnesium oxide, show that doping lowers temperature-independent portion of attenuation of acoustic waves. Doped crystals possess optical properties well suited for electro-optical and photoelastic applications

Oxetanes: Recent Advances in Synthesis, Reactivity and Medicinal Chemistry

The 4-membered oxetane ring has been increasingly exploited for its behaviors, i.e. influence on physicochemical properties as a stable motif in medicinal chemistry, and propensity to undergo ring opening reactions as a synthetic intermediate. These applications have driven numerous studies into the synthesis of new oxetane derivatives. This review takes an overview of the literature for the synthesis of oxetane derivatives, concentrating on advances in the last 5 years up to the end of 2015. These methods are clustered by strategy for preparation of the ring (Sections 3 and 4), and further derivatisation of preformed oxetane-containing building blocks (Sections 5-7). Examples of the use of oxetanes in medicinal chemistry are reported, including a collation of oxetane derivatives appearing in recent patents for medicinal chemistry applications. Finally examples of oxetane derivatives in ring opening and ring expansion reactions are described

Leishmaniasis: new approaches to disease control.

The leishmaniases afflict the world's poorest populations. Among the two million new cases each year in the 88 countries where the disease is endemic (fig 1), it is estimated that 80% earn less than $2 a day. Human infections with Leishmania protozoan parasites, transmitted via the bite of a sandfly, cause visceral, cutaneous, or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The global burden of leishmaniasis has remained stable for some years, causing 2.4 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost and 59 000 deaths in 2001. Neglected by researchers and funding agencies, leishmaniasis control strategies have varied little for decades, but in recent years there have been exciting advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. These include an immunochromatographic dipstick for diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis; the licensing of miltefosine, the first oral drug for visceral leishmaniasis; and evidence that the incidence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in children can be reduced by providing dogs with deltamethrin collars. There is also hope that the first leishmaniasis vaccine will become available within a decade. Here we review these developments and identify priorities for research