Efficient cosmological parameter sampling using sparse grids

We present a novel method to significantly speed up cosmological parameter sampling. The method relies on constructing an interpolation of the CMB-log-likelihood based on sparse grids, which is used as a shortcut for the likelihood-evaluation. We obtain excellent results over a large region in parameter space, comprising about 25 log-likelihoods around the peak, and we reproduce the one-dimensional projections of the likelihood almost perfectly. In speed and accuracy, our technique is competitive to existing approaches to accelerate parameter estimation based on polynomial interpolation or neural networks, while having some advantages over them. In our method, there is no danger of creating unphysical wiggles as it can be the case for polynomial fits of a high degree. Furthermore, we do not require a long training time as for neural networks, but the construction of the interpolation is determined by the time it takes to evaluate the likelihood at the sampling points, which can be parallelised to an arbitrary degree. Our approach is completely general, and it can adaptively exploit the properties of the underlying function. We can thus apply it to any problem where an accurate interpolation of a function is needed.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, 13 pages, 13 figure

Planck intermediate results. VIII. Filaments between interacting clusters

About half of the baryons of the Universe are expected to be in the form of filaments of hot and low density intergalactic medium. Most of these baryons remain undetected even by the most advanced X-ray observatories which are limited in sensitivity to the diffuse low density medium. The Planck satellite has provided hundreds of detections of the hot gas in clusters of galaxies via the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect and is an ideal instrument for studying extended low density media through the tSZ effect. In this paper we use the Planck data to search for signatures of a fraction of these missing baryons between pairs of galaxy clusters. Cluster pairs are good candidates for searching for the hotter and denser phase of the intergalactic medium (which is more easily observed through the SZ effect). Using an X-ray catalogue of clusters and the Planck data, we select physical pairs of clusters as candidates. Using the Planck data we construct a local map of the tSZ effect centered on each pair of galaxy clusters. ROSAT data is used to construct X-ray maps of these pairs. After having modelled and subtracted the tSZ effect and X-ray emission for each cluster in the pair we study the residuals on both the SZ and X-ray maps. For the merging cluster pair A399-A401 we observe a significant tSZ effect signal in the intercluster region beyond the virial radii of the clusters. A joint X-ray SZ analysis allows us to constrain the temperature and density of this intercluster medium. We obtain a temperature of kT = 7.1 +- 0.9, keV (consistent with previous estimates) and a baryon density of (3.7 +- 0.2)x10^-4, cm^-3. The Planck satellite mission has provided the first SZ detection of the hot and diffuse intercluster gas.Comment: Accepted by A&

Planck Intermediate Results. IX. Detection of the Galactic haze with Planck

Using precise full-sky observations from Planck, and applying several methods of component separation, we identify and characterize the emission from the Galactic "haze" at microwave wavelengths. The haze is a distinct component of diffuse Galactic emission, roughly centered on the Galactic centre, and extends to |b| ~35 deg in Galactic latitude and |l| ~15 deg in longitude. By combining the Planck data with observations from the WMAP we are able to determine the spectrum of this emission to high accuracy, unhindered by the large systematic biases present in previous analyses. The derived spectrum is consistent with power-law emission with a spectral index of -2.55 +/- 0.05, thus excluding free-free emission as the source and instead favouring hard-spectrum synchrotron radiation from an electron population with a spectrum (number density per energy) dN/dE ~ E^-2.1. At Galactic latitudes |b|<30 deg, the microwave haze morphology is consistent with that of the Fermi gamma-ray "haze" or "bubbles," indicating that we have a multi-wavelength view of a distinct component of our Galaxy. Given both the very hard spectrum and the extended nature of the emission, it is highly unlikely that the haze electrons result from supernova shocks in the Galactic disk. Instead, a new mechanism for cosmic-ray acceleration in the centre of our Galaxy is implied.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysic

Origin of Central Andean collapse calderas

Regional strains in tectonically active volcanic provinces may have a profound influence on the mode of collapse caldera formation. Conversely, the deformation pattern, more specifically, the symmetry of plan-view strain fields imparted to caldera floors may assist in elucidating the regional deformation active during caldera formation. The symmetry of plan-view strain fields is chiefly controlled by the mode of floor subsidence, particularly whether subsidence is uniform, symmetric or asymmetric, portraying collapse mechanisms known respectively as plate, downsag and trapdoor. Plate and downsag subsidence generates centro-symmetric strain fields characterized by radial and concentric discontinuities and subvolcanic dikes. Such strain fields appear to develop preferably where magma pressure controls collapse. By contrast, rectilinear horizontal strain fields form under unidirectional stretching and generate normal faults and subvolcanic dikes transverse to the stretching direction. Rectilinear strain fields are typical for trapdoor subsidence but also for straight orogenic belts and suggests that the formation of both may be related. This was tested for six central Andean collapse calderas that formed between 10.5 and 2Ma and are located on prominent NW–SE striking fault zones. A combined geochronological and structural analysis of the Miocene Negra Muerta Caldera in particular was designed to better understand caldera formation associated with the prominent Olacapato – El Toro Fault Zone...conferenc

Planck 2013 results. XXII. Constraints on inflation

We analyse the implications of the Planck data for cosmic inflation. The Planck nominal mission temperature anisotropy measurements, combined with the WMAP large-angle polarization, constrain the scalar spectral index to be ns = 0:9603 _ 0:0073, ruling out exact scale invariance at over 5_: Planck establishes an upper bound on the tensor-to-scalar ratio of r < 0:11 (95% CL). The Planck data thus shrink the space of allowed standard inflationary models, preferring potentials with V00 < 0. Exponential potential models, the simplest hybrid inflationary models, and monomial potential models of degree n _ 2 do not provide a good fit to the data. Planck does not find statistically significant running of the scalar spectral index, obtaining dns=dln k = 0:0134 _ 0:0090. We verify these conclusions through a numerical analysis, which makes no slowroll approximation, and carry out a Bayesian parameter estimation and model-selection analysis for a number of inflationary models including monomial, natural, and hilltop potentials. For each model, we present the Planck constraints on the parameters of the potential and explore several possibilities for the post-inflationary entropy generation epoch, thus obtaining nontrivial data-driven constraints. We also present a direct reconstruction of the observable range of the inflaton potential. Unless a quartic term is allowed in the potential, we find results consistent with second-order slow-roll predictions. We also investigate whether the primordial power spectrum contains any features. We find that models with a parameterized oscillatory feature improve the fit by __2 e_ _ 10; however, Bayesian evidence does not prefer these models. We constrain several single-field inflation models with generalized Lagrangians by combining power spectrum data with Planck bounds on fNL. Planck constrains with unprecedented accuracy the amplitude and possible correlation (with the adiabatic mode) of non-decaying isocurvature fluctuations. The fractional primordial contributions of cold dark matter (CDM) isocurvature modes of the types expected in the curvaton and axion scenarios have upper bounds of 0.25% and 3.9% (95% CL), respectively. In models with arbitrarily correlated CDM or neutrino isocurvature modes, an anticorrelated isocurvature component can improve the _2 e_ by approximately 4 as a result of slightly lowering the theoretical prediction for the ` <_ 40 multipoles relative to the higher multipoles. Nonetheless, the data are consistent with adiabatic initial conditions

O jovem atleta do Estado de Mato Grosso: análise sociodemográfica e percepção do apoio familiar recebido para a prática esportiva

Estudo sociodemográfico e percepção do apoio familiar recebido para a prática esportiva pelos jovens atletas do Estado de Mato Gross

ANÁLISE ECOLÓGICA DO ENSINO INFANTIL E INTERFACES COM A EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA

O estudo resulta da Inserção Ecológica no contexto do ensino infantil de Cáceres – MT. Propõe-se em analisar esse contexto em seus aspectos pedagógicos e estruturais, o perfil dos professores e as relações destes elementos com os conteúdos da Educação Física. Participaram coordenadoras e/ou diretoras e professores/as pedagogos/as de oito instituições públicas de Educação Infantil. Para obtenção dos dados foram realizadas observações dos espaços e infraestrutura das instituições, diário de campo nas entrevistas com os gestores e aplicação de questionários com os/as professores/as. Os dados foram analisados a partir da análise descritiva e temática. Enquanto conclusões destaca-se a influência das políticas públicas, as limitações nos espaços e infraestrutura das instituições e as fragilidades na formação inicial dos professores/as no que se refere ao trato pedagógico dos conteúdos da Educação Física na Educação Infantil

EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL: ESTRATÉGIAS METODOLÓGICAS PARA A QUALIDADE DA PRÁTICA PEDAGÓGICA

O estudo é resultado de uma revisão sistemática que buscou identificar estratégias metodológicas que corroboram com a qualidade da prática pedagógica no ensino da Educação Física na Educação Infantil. As buscas foram realizadas em três bases de dados e cinco periódicos nacionais de divulgação dos conhecimentos específicos da Educação Física. Empregou-se a ‘análise do conteúdo’, no qual foram selecionados quatorze artigos classificados em A2, B1 e B2, com foco e escopo pautados nos aspectos pedagógicos do ensino da Educação Física. Foram analisados relatos de experiência, estudo de caso, estudos com o cotidiano e pesquisa-ação. Os dados encontram-se em seis categorias, sendo interdisciplinaridade, autonomia, relações interpessoais, diálogo, motivação e jogo simbólico. Conclui-se que o trabalho docente deve considerar a criança em sua totalidade, proporcionando atividades sistematizadas e contextualizadas que estimulem a autonomia, as relações com seus pares, a exploração e vivências de variadas práticas corporais nos diferentes tempos e espaço

The importance of lithological heterogeneity of the Onaping Formation for understanding post-impact deformation of the Sudbury Impact Structure, Canada

The suevitic Onaping Formation overlies the layered Main Mass of the 1.85Ga Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) of the Sudbury Impact Structure, Ontario. The Formation consists of four Members, namely from top to bottom, the Black, the Green, the Gray and the Basal. Post-impact NWSE shortening during the Penokean Orogeny (ca. 1.9–1.75 Ga) affected the Onaping Formation and led to the lobate shape of the SIC in plan view. In order to investigate the possible fold origin of the NE-lobe of the SIC, a field-based structural analysis of the Onaping Formation was conducted in the Frenchman Lake area. The analysis is based on structural measurements at 580 stations and encompasses the orientation of mineral shape fabrics as well as their intensity. In addition to these quantities, lithological variation and metamorphic overprint of the Onaping Formation was examined. Special attention was paid thereby to the Green Member since previous workers stated that it forms a continuous unit at the base of the Black Member...conferenc

Planck pre-launch status : The Planck-LFI programme

Peer reviewe