Error analysis in cross-correlation of sky maps: application to the ISW detection

Constraining cosmological parameters from measurements of the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect requires developing robust and accurate methods for computing statistical errors in the cross-correlation between maps. This paper presents a detailed comparison of such error estimation applied to the case of cross-correlation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and large-scale structure data. We compare theoretical models for error estimation with montecarlo simulations where both the galaxy and the CMB maps vary around a fiducial auto-correlation and cross-correlation model which agrees well with the current concordance LCDM cosmology. Our analysis compares estimators both in harmonic and configuration (or real) space, quantifies the accuracy of the error analysis and discuss the impact of partial sky survey area and the choice of input fiducial model on dark-energy constraints. We show that purely analytic approaches yield accurate errors even in surveys that cover only 10% of the sky and that parameter constraints strongly depend on the fiducial model employed. Alternatively, we discuss the advantages and limitations of error estimators that can be directly applied to data. In particular, we show that errors and covariances from the Jack-Knife method agree well with the theoretical approaches and simulations. We also introduce a novel method in real space that is computationally efficient and can be applied to real data and realistic survey geometries. Finally, we present a number of new findings and prescriptions that can be useful for analysis of real data and forecasts, and present a critical summary of the analyses done to date.Comment: submitted to MNRAS, 26 page

The use of hydrological and geoelectrical data to fix the boundary conditions of a ground water flow model: a case study

International audienceTo assess whether the hydrometric level of an artificial lake in a quarry near Milan (Italy) could be assigned as a Dirichlet boundary condition for the phreatic aquifer in a fine scale groundwater flow model, hydrological measurements of piezometric head and rainfall rate time series have been analysed by spectral and statistical methods. The piezometric head close to the quarry lake proved to be well correlated with seasonal variations in the rainfall. Furthermore, geoelectrical tomography detected no semi-permeable layer between the phreatic aquifer and the lake, so the contact between surface and ground water is good. Finally, a time-varying prescribed head condition can be applied for ground water flow modelling

Influence of temperature and net radiation on the natural degreening process of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) cultivars Rio Red and Star Ruby

This contribution analyses the influence of net radiation and temperature on the colour changes that take place in the peel of two cultivars of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.), Rio Red and Star Ruby. The study, which covered four growing seasons (2005/6, 2006/7, 2010/11 and 2011/12) shows that, while net radiation influenced the colour change in both varieties, it was not sufficient in itself to explain when the degreening starts. This process only started when the mean of the minimum daily temperatures for the 14 days preceding the measurement was 13–14 °C or when the daily minimum temperature was below 12.5 °C on two (not necessarily consecutive) days. This information shows that, for new plantations of these two grapefruit cultivars to be successful, not only must the thermal integral be high, but that temperatures must fall below 13 or 14 °C for degreening to begin during ripening. If these conditions are not met, grapefruit intended for commercial distribution will have to be subjected to artificial degreening in an ethylene chamber, thus increasing production costs

Relation between temperature and the beginning of peel color change in grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.)

The grapefruit varieties Marsh (white-fleshed) and Redblush (pink-fleshed) are the most widely cultivated varieties in the world. In this work we attempt to determine the temperature below which degreening begins in these two varieties of grapefruit, first studying the influence of radiation on the colorimetric coordinates and then the influence of minimum temperatures on the change from green to yellow, based on the data gathered during the 2005/6, 2006/7, 2010/11 and 2011/12 growing seasons. The results show that net radiation alone does not explain when degreening begins, but that the process depends on the mean of the minimum temperatures for the 14 days preceding the sampling being below 14 °C. Finally, we discuss the relationships between coordinate a, and each of the following variables: maturity index (MI), °Brix, and percentage of acidity, concluding that the indices show that grapefruit are mature at the beginning of autumn when the peel is still green. Therefore, these indices are not related with natural degreening, which occurs in autumn. This knowledge will help predict the color that fruit will reach according to the temperatures of a given geographical area and whether or not degreening chambers will have to be used, with the additional costs that this implies

Allosteric modulators targeting cannabinoid cb1 and cb2 receptors: Implications for drug discovery

Allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors hold great therapeutic potential, as they do not possess intrinsic efficacy, but instead enhance or diminish the receptor's response of orthosteric ligands allowing for the tempering of cannabinoid receptor signaling without the desensitization, tolerance and dependence. Allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors have numerous advantages over the orthosteric ligands such as higher receptor type selectivity, probe dependence and biased signaling, so they have a great potential to separate the therapeutic benefits from side effects own of orthosteric ligands. This review aims to give an overview of the CB1 and CB2 receptor allosteric modulators highlighting the structure-activity relationship and pharmacological profile of each classes, and their future promise

Immuno-Modulatory Properties of a Quinolin-2-(1H)-on-3-Carboxamide Derivative: Relevance in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: We have recently released the structure of a class of quinolin-2-(1H)-on-3-carboxamide derivatives and among them; the drug A2 has the highest CB2 receptor selectivity. Objective: In this work we assessed the immuno-modulatory properties of A2 in lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients and healthy donors. Methods: Cell proliferative response was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation, cell viability and apoptosis by trypan blue, annexin V staining and western blot. Cell activation was investigated by flow cytometry and molecular pathways by western blot. Results: A2 exerted anti-proliferative effects with down-regulation of TNF-α , IL-10 and Rantes in both cell types. No relevant changes were observed in cell viability between the two cell types. In cells from healthy subjects, A2 did not induce apoptosis, inhibited the cell cycle and similarly down-regulated in CD4+T cells the markers CD69, CD25, CD49d and CD54. Indeed, A2 also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, NF-kB, IKKα/β, ERK and blocked the expression of Cox-2 and CB2 receptor. Published patents also describe CB2 receptor agonists like purine derivatives. Differently, in cells from patients, A2 did not affect CD49d, while potently blocked CD54 expression. A2 inhibitory effects of Akt and Cox-2 expression were confirmed, whereas unchanged level of the CB2 receptor was observed in these cells. Conclusion: We reported similar effects of A2 in both cell types; however, a different mechanism of action might be suggested in cells from patients concerning cell activation and CB2 receptor expression. Overall, these data suggest an anti-inflammatory profile of A2 with potential implication in multiple sclerosis