Possible Evidence of Thermodynamic Equilibrium in Dark Matter Haloes

After deducing the density profiles and gravitational potential functions of eight galaxies from the rotation velocity data from THINGS, we find that the density decreases exponentially with the potential in substantial regions of the haloes. Such behavior is in agreement with that of a single-component isothermal Boltzmann gas, and suggests that an effective description in terms of a Boltzmann gas is possible for dark matter in these regions. This could be an indication that dark matter self-interactions are sufficient in strength and number to lead to thermal equilibrium in these regions. We write down the dynamics and boundary conditions for a Boltzmann gas description and examine some of its qualitative and quantitative consequences. Solutions to the dynamical system are determined by three dimensionfull parameters, and provide reasonable fits to the rotational velocity data in the regions where the Boltzmann-like behavior was found. Unlike in the usual approach to curve fitting, we do not assume a specific form for the dark matter density profile and we do not require a detailed knowledge of the baryonic content of the galaxy.Comment: 34 pages, 37 figures. Version accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

And the Light Flood Over the Land : Reading Region in Marilynne Robinson\u27s Gilead

An interdisciplinary analysis of Marilynne Robinson\u27s second novel Gilead. Investigates the novel\u27s interactions with various figurations of the Middle West, specifically the production of an affective reality in this supposedly affectless region. Uses the contributions of New Regionalist social historians to frame Robinson\u27s work

Genome-Wide Divergence and Linkage Disequilibrium Analyses for Capsicum baccatum Revealed by Genome-Anchored Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

Principal component analysis (PCA) with 36,621 polymorphic genome-anchored single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified collectively for Capsicum annuum and Capsicum baccatum was used to show the distribution of these 2 important incompatible cultivated pepper species. Estimated mean nucleotide diversity (π) and Tajima’s D across various chromosomes revealed biased distribution toward negative values on all chromosomes (except for chromosome 4) in cultivated C. baccatum, indicating a population bottleneck during domestication of C. baccatum. In contrast, C. annuum chromosomes showed positive π and Tajima’s D on all chromosomes except chromosome 8, which may be because of domestication at multiple sites contributing to wider genetic diversity. For C. baccatum, 13,129 SNPs were available, with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥0.05; PCA of the SNPs revealed 283 C. baccatum accessions grouped into 3 distinct clusters, for strong population structure. The fixation index (FST) between domesticated C. annuum and C. baccatum was 0.78, which indicates genome-wide divergence. We conducted extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of C. baccatum var. pendulum cultivars on all adjacent SNP pairs within a chromosome to identify regions of high and low LD interspersed with a genome-wide average LD block size of 99.1 kb. We characterized 1742 haplotypes containing 4420 SNPs (range 9–2 SNPs per haplotype). Genome-wide association study of peduncle length, a trait that differentiates wild and domesticated C. baccatum types, revealed 36 genome-wide SNPs significantly associated. Population structure, identity by state (IBS) and LD patterns across the genome will be of potential use for future genome-wide association study of economically important traits in C. baccatum peppers

Generalized Courant-Snyder Theory for Charged-Particle Dynamics in General Focusing Lattices

The Courant-Snyder (CS) theory for one degree of freedom is generalized to the case of coupled transverse dynamics in general linear focusing lattices with quadrupole, skew-quadrupole, dipole, and solenoidal components, as well as torsion of the fiducial orbit and variation of beam energy. The envelope function is generalized into an envelope matrix, and the phase advance is generalized into a 4D sympletic rotation. The envelope equation, the transfer matrix, and the CS invariant of the original CS theory all have their counterparts, with remarkably similar expressions, in the generalized theory.open7

Anthropometric and Performance Perspectives of Female Competitive Surfing

Purpose: To evaluate the anthropometric profiles of female surfers and to identify whether any anthropometrical factors might predict competitive ranking. Secondly to evaluate the activity profile of female competitive surfing with respect to environmental conditions using GPS derived measures. Methods: Following institutional ethical approval n = 31 female competitive surfers underwent anthropometric assessment (mean age: 20.49, s = 5.32 years, stature: 165.2, s = 4.8 cm; body mass: 63.0, s = 6.8 Kg) a subsample (n = 22) wore GPS units during competition at four different locations with varied surfing conditions. Results: The mean somatotype values the surfers was found to be (Endo-Meso-Ecto) 4.06 – 4.15 – 2.01. Significant correlations (p <0.05) were found between National ranking and triceps, medial calf skinfolds, sum of six skinfolds, body fat percentage and sum of eight skinfolds. Percentage time sitting, paddling and riding were 62.58% ± 10.18%, 30.70% ± 9.44% and 6.73% ± 2.91% respectively. The mean ride time, maximum ride time, total time spent riding and the total distance surfing were significantly correlated with the round of the competition. Furthermore, the number of rides, time spent riding, percentage of total distance surfing and percentage time riding were correlated with heat placement (p < 0.05). Time spent sitting was associated with poorer heat placements (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Body fat levels are associated with national ranking in competitive female surfers. The number of waves ridden in a heat, the length of the rides and activity levels were significantly related to heat placement and competition progression. Keywords: Body composition; sports; somatotypes; athletic performance/physiology; Muscle, skeletal; body size; body mass index; GPS; wave conditions; competition

Asymmetric Dark Matter from Leptogenesis

We present a new realization of asymmetric dark matter in which the dark matter and lepton asymmetries are generated simultaneously through two-sector leptogenesis. The right-handed neutrinos couple both to the Standard Model and to a hidden sector where the dark matter resides. This framework explains the lepton asymmetry, dark matter abundance and neutrino masses all at once. In contrast to previous realizations of asymmetric dark matter, the model allows for a wide range of dark matter masses, from keV to 10 TeV. In particular, very light dark matter can be accommodated without violating experimental constraints. We discuss several variants of our model that highlight interesting phenomenological possibilities. In one, late decays repopulate the symmetric dark matter component, providing a new mechanism for generating a large annihilation rate at the present epoch and allowing for mixed warm/cold dark matter. In a second scenario, dark matter mixes with the active neutrinos, thus presenting a distinct method to populate sterile neutrino dark matter through leptogenesis. At late times, oscillations and dark matter decays lead to interesting indirect detection signals.Comment: 32 pages + appendix, references added, minor change

Analytical methods for describing charged particle dynamics in general focusing lattices using generalized Courant-Snyder theory

The dynamics of charged particles in general linear focusing lattices with quadrupole, skew-quadrupole, dipole, and solenoidal components, as well as torsion of the fiducial orbit and variation of beam energy is parametrized using a generalized Courant-Snyder (CS) theory, which extends the original CS theory for one degree of freedom to higher dimensions. The envelope function is generalized into an envelope matrix, and the phase advance is generalized into a 4D symplectic rotation, or a U(2) element. The 1D envelope equation, also known as the Ermakov-Milne-Pinney equation in quantum mechanics, is generalized to an envelope matrix equation in higher dimensions. Other components of the original CS theory, such as the transfer matrix, Twiss functions, and CS invariant (also known as the Lewis invariant) all have their counterparts, with remarkably similar expressions, in the generalized theory. The gauge group structure of the generalized theory is analyzed. By fixing the gauge freedom with a desired symmetry, the generalized CS parametrization assumes the form of the modified Iwasawa decomposition, whose importance in phase space optics and phase space quantum mechanics has been recently realized. This gauge fixing also symmetrizes the generalized envelope equation and expresses the theory using only the generalized Twiss function beta. The generalized phase advance completely determines the spectral and structural stability properties of a general focusing lattice. For structural stability, the generalized CS theory enables application of the Krein-Moser theory to greatly simplify the stability analysis. The generalized CS theory provides an effective tool to study coupled dynamics and to discover more optimized lattice designs in the larger parameter space of general focusing lattices.open3

Role of macrophage sialoadhesin in host defense against the sialylated pathogen group B <em>Streptococcus</em>

ABSTRACT: Several bacterial pathogens decorate their surfaces with sialic acid (Sia) residues within cell wall components or capsular exopolysaccharides. Sialic acid expression can promote bacterial virulence by blocking complement activation or by engagement of inhibitory sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) on host leukocytes. Expressed at high levels on splenic and lymph node macrophages, sialoadhesin (Sn) is a unique Siglec with an elongated structure that lacks intracellular signaling motifs. Sialoadhesin allows macrophage to engage certain sialylated pathogens and stimulate inflammatory responses, but the in vivo significance of sialoadhesin in infection has not been shown. We demonstrate that macrophages phagocytose the sialylated pathogen group B Streptococcus (GBS) and increase bactericidal activity via sialoadhesin-sialic-acid-mediated recognition. Sialoadhesin expression on marginal zone metallophillic macrophages in the spleen trapped circulating GBS and restricted the spread of the GBS to distant organs, reducing mortality. Specific IgM antibody responses to GBS challenge were also impaired in sialoadhesin-deficient mice. Thus, sialoadhesin represents a key bridge to orchestrate innate and adaptive immune defenses against invasive sialylated bacterial pathogens. KEY MESSAGE: Sialoadhesin is critical for macrophages to phagocytose and clear GBS. Increased GBS organ dissemination in the sialoadhesin-deficient mice. Reduced anti-GBS IgM production in the sialoadhesin-deficient mice. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00109-014-1157-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

NUDGING STUDENTS THROUGH EMAIL COMMUNICATION

This study analyzes the results of an experiment using personalized emails to nudge second-year students to attend a career fair. The study relied on peer mentors to send out emails informing students about the details of the career fair. Students were randomly assigned to receive an email that focused on the benefits of attending the career fair and offered pizza and a prize if they attended a session to help them sign up and prepare for the career fair. The results indicate that the intervention had no measurable effect on increasing the likelihood that students attend the help session or attend the career fair. Several reasons for this might be because of email overload, present-biased preferences, and factors related to COVID. Further, we provide guidance on what might be done to address these factors in future interventions