848 research outputs found
Anthropogenic noise reduces avian feeding efficiency and increases vigilance along an urbanârural gradient regardless of speciesâ tolerances to urbanisation
Anthropogenic noise can adversely impact urban bird populations by interfering with vocal communication. Less research has addressed if anthropogenic noise masks the adventitious sounds that birds use to aid predator detection, which may lead to increased vigilance and reduced feeding efficiency. We test this hypothesis using a controlled playback experiment along an urbanârural gradient in Sheffield (UK). We also test the related predictions that anthropogenic noise has the greatest impacts on vigilance and feeding efficiency in rural populations, and on species that are more sensitive to urbanisation. We focus on six passerines, in order from most to least urbanised (based on how urbanisation influences population densities): blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, robin Erithacus rubeculla, great tit Parus major, chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, coal tit Periparus ater and nuthatch Sitta europaea. We used playâback of anthropogenic urban noise and a control treatment at 46 feeding stations located along the urbanârural gradient. We assess impacts on willingness to visit feeders, feeding and vigilance rates. Exposure to anthropogenic noise reduced visit rates to supplementary feeding stations, reduced feeding rates and increased vigilance. Birds at more urban sites exhibit less marked treatment induced reductions in feeding rates, suggesting that urban populations may be partially habituated or adapted to noisy environments. There was no evidence, however, that more urbanised species were less sensitive to the impacts of noise on any response variable. Our results support the adventitious sound masking hypothesis. Urban noise may thus interfere with the ability of birds to detect predators, reducing their willingness to use food rich environments and increase vigilance rates resulting in reduced feeding rates. These adverse impacts may compromise the quality of otherwise suitable foraging habitats in noisy urban areas. They are likely to be widespread as they arise in a range of species including common urban birds
Timing of maternal exposure and fetal sex determine the effects of low-level chemical mixture exposure on the fetal neuroendocrine system in sheep
We have shown that continuous maternal exposure to the complex mixture of environmental chemicals (ECs) found in human biosolids (sewage sludge), disrupts mRNA expression of genes crucial for development and long-term regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal (HPG) function in sheep. This study investigated whether exposure to ECs only during preconceptional period or only during pregnancy perturbed key regulatory genes within the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and whether these effects were different from chronic (life-long) exposure to biosolid ECs. The findings demonstrate that the timing and duration of maternal EC exposure influences the subsequent effects on the fetal neuroendocrine system in a sex-specific manner. Maternal exposure prior to conception or during pregnancy only, altered the expression of key fetal neuroendocrine regulatory systems such as GnRH and kisspeptin to a greater extent than when maternal exposure was âlife-longâ. Furthermore, hypothalamic gene expression was affected to a greater extent in males than in females, and following EC exposure, male fetuses expressed more âfemale-likeâ mRNA levels for some key neuroendocrine genes. This is the first study to show that âreal-lifeâ maternal exposure to low levels of a complex cocktail of chemicals prior to conception can subsequently affect the developing fetal neuroendocrine system. These findings demonstrate that the developing neuroendocrine system is sensitive to EC mixtures in a sex-dimorphic manner likely to predispose to reproductive dysfunction in later life
BRST-BFV method for nonstationary systems
Starting from an associated reparametrization-invariant action, the
generalization of the BRST-BFV method for the case of nonstationary systems is
constructed. The extension of the Batalin-Tyutin conversional approach is also
considered in the nonstationary case. In order to illustrate these ideas, the
propagator for the time-dependent two-dimensional rotor is calculated by
reformulating the problem as a system with only first class constraints and
subsequently using the BRST-BFV prescription previously obtained.Comment: Latex, RevTeX, 13 page
On the ideals of equivariant tree models
We introduce equivariant tree models in algebraic statistics, which unify and
generalise existing tree models such as the general Markov model, the strand
symmetric model, and group based models. We focus on the ideals of such models.
We show how the ideals for general trees can be determined from the ideals for
stars. The main novelty is our proof that this procedure yields the entire
ideal, not just an ideal defining the model set-theoretically. A corollary of
theoretical importance is that the ideal for a general tree is generated by the
ideals of its flattenings at vertices.Comment: 23 pages. Greatly improved exposition, in part following suggestions
by a referee--thanks! Also added exampl
Alzheimer disease genetic risk factor APOE e4, and cognitive abilities in 111,739 UK Biobank participants
Background: the apolipoprotein (APOE) e4 locus is a genetic risk factor for dementia. Carriers of the e4 allele may be more
vulnerable to conditions that are independent risk factors for cognitive decline, such as cardiometabolic diseases.
Objective: we tested whether any association with APOE e4 status on cognitive ability was larger in older ages or in those
with cardiometabolic diseases.
Subjects: UK Biobank includes over 500,000 middle- and older aged adults who have undergone detailed medical and cognitive
phenotypic assessment. Around 150,000 currently have genetic data. We examined 111,739 participants with complete
genetic and cognitive data.
Methods: baseline cognitive data relating to information processing speed, memory and reasoning were used. We tested for
interactions with age and with the presence versus absence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension.
Results: in several instances, APOE e4 dosage interacted with older age and disease presence to affect cognitive scores. When
adjusted for potentially confounding variables, there was no APOE e4 effect on the outcome variables.
Conclusions: future research in large independent cohorts should continue to investigate this important question, which has
potential implications for aetiology related to dementia and cognitive impairment
The Green--Schwarz Superstring in Extended Configuration Space and Infinitely Reducible First Class Constraints Problem
The Green--Schwarz superstring action is modified to include some set of
additional (on-shell trivial) variables. A complete constraints system of the
theory turns out to be reducible both in the original and in additional
variable sectors. The initial first class constraints and second
class ones are shown to be unified with first and second class
constraints from the additional variables sector, resulting with
-covariant and linearly independent constraint sets. Residual
reducibility proves to fall on second class constraints only.Comment: 14 pages, LaTe
Unconventional MBE Strategies from Computer Simulations for Optimized Growth Conditions
We investigate the influence of step edge diffusion (SED) and desorption on
Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) using kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations of the
solid-on-solid (SOS) model. Based on these investigations we propose two
strategies to optimize MBE growth. The strategies are applicable in different
growth regimes: During layer-by-layer growth one can exploit the presence of
desorption in order to achieve smooth surfaces. By additional short high flux
pulses of particles one can increase the growth rate and assist layer-by-layer
growth. If, however, mounds are formed (non-layer-by-layer growth) the SED can
be used to control size and shape of the three-dimensional structures. By
controlled reduction of the flux with time we achieve a fast coarsening
together with smooth step edges.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Magnetic Catalysis: A Review
We give an overview of the magnetic catalysis phenomenon. In the framework of
quantum field theory, magnetic catalysis is broadly defined as an enhancement
of dynamical symmetry breaking by an external magnetic field. We start from a
brief discussion of spontaneous symmetry breaking and the role of a magnetic
field in its a dynamics. This is followed by a detailed presentation of the
essential features of the phenomenon. In particular, we emphasize that the
dimensional reduction plays a profound role in the pairing dynamics in a
magnetic field. Using the general nature of underlying physics and its
robustness with respect to interaction types and model content, we argue that
magnetic catalysis is a universal and model-independent phenomenon. In support
of this claim, we show how magnetic catalysis is realized in various models
with short-range and long-range interactions. We argue that the general nature
of the phenomenon implies a wide range of potential applications: from certain
types of solid state systems to models in cosmology, particle and nuclear
physics. We finish the review with general remarks about magnetic catalysis and
an outlook for future research.Comment: 37 pages, to appear in Lect. Notes Phys. "Strongly interacting matter
in magnetic fields" (Springer), edited by D. Kharzeev, K. Landsteiner, A.
Schmitt, H.-U. Yee. Version 2: references adde
Zebrafish as a tractable model of human cardiovascular disease
Mammalian models including non-human primates, pigs and rodents have been used extensively to study the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease. However, there is an increasing desire for alternative model systems that provide excellent scientific value while replacing or reducing the use of mammals. Here, we review the use of zebrafish, Danio rerio, to study cardiovascular development and disease. The anatomy and physiology of zebrafish and mammalian cardiovascular systems are compared, and we describe the use of zebrafish models in studying the mechanisms of cardiac (e.g. congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, conduction disorders and regeneration) and vascular (endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism, vascular ageing, neurovascular physiology and stroke) pathologies. We also review the use of zebrafish for studying pharmacological responses to cardiovascular drugs and describe several features of zebrafish that make them a compelling model for in vivo screening of compounds for the treatment cardiovascular disease
Lattice QCD Simulations in External Background Fields
We discuss recent results and future prospects regarding the investigation,
by lattice simulations, of the non-perturbative properties of QCD and of its
phase diagram in presence of magnetic or chromomagnetic background fields.
After a brief introduction to the formulation of lattice QCD in presence of
external fields, we focus on studies regarding the effects of external fields
on chiral symmetry breaking, on its restoration at finite temperature and on
deconfinement. We conclude with a few comments regarding the effects of
electromagnetic background fields on gluodynamics.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, minor changes and references added. To appear
in Lect. Notes Phys. "Strongly interacting matter in magnetic fields"
(Springer), edited by D. Kharzeev, K. Landsteiner, A. Schmitt, H.-U. Ye
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