Constraints on Dark Energy from New Observations including Pan-STARRS

In this paper, we set the new limits on the equation of state parameter (EoS) of dark energy with the observations of cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) from Planck satellite, the type Ia supernovae from Pan-STARRS and the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO). We consider two parametrization forms of EoS: a constant $w$ and time evolving $w(a)=w_0+w_a(1-a)$. The results show that with a constant EoS, $w=-1.141\pm{0.075}$ ($68\%~C.L.$), which is consistent with $\Lambda$CDM at about $2\sigma$ confidence level. For a time evolving $w(a)$ model, we get $w_0=-1.09^{+0.16}_{-0.18}$ ($1\sigma~C.L.$), $w_a=-0.34^{+0.87}_{-0.51}$ ($1\sigma~C.L.$), and in this case $\Lambda$CDM can be comparable with our observational data at $1\sigma$ confidence level. In order to do the parametrization independent analysis, additionally we adopt the so called principal component analysis (PCA) method, in which we divide redshift range into several bins and assume $w$ as a constant in each redshift bin (bin-w). In such bin-w scenario, we find that for most of the bins cosmological constant can be comparable with the data, however, there exists few bins which give $w$ deviating from $\Lambda$CDM at more than $2\sigma$ confidence level, which shows a weak hint for the time evolving behavior of dark energy. To further confirm this hint, we need more data with higher precision.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Molecular Lines of 13 Galactic Infrared Bubble Regions

We investigated the physical properties of molecular clouds and star formation processes around infrared bubbles which are essentially expanding HII regions. We performed observations of 13 galactic infrared bubble fields containing 18 bubbles. Five molecular lines, 12CO (J=1-0), 13CO (J=1-0), C18O(J=1-0), HCN (J=1-0), and HCO+ (J=1-0), were observed, and several publicly available surveys, GLIMPSE, MIPSGAL, ATLASGAL, BGPS, VGPS, MAGPIS, and NVSS, were used for comparison. We find that these bubbles are generally connected with molecular clouds, most of which are giant. Several bubble regions display velocity gradients and broad shifted profiles, which could be due to the expansion of bubbles. The masses of molecular clouds within bubbles range from 100 to 19,000 solar mass, and their dynamic ages are about 0.3-3.7 Myr, which takes into account the internal turbulence pressure of surrounding molecular clouds. Clumps are found in the vicinity of all 18 bubbles, and molecular clouds near four of these bubbles with larger angular sizes show shell-like morphologies, indicating that either collect-and-collapse or radiation-driven implosion processes may have occurred. Due to the contamination of adjacent molecular clouds, only six bubble regions are appropriate to search for outflows, and we find that four of them have outflow activities. Three bubbles display ultra-compact HII regions at their borders, and one of them is probably responsible for its outflow. In total, only six bubbles show star formation activities in the vicinity, and we suggest that star formation processes might have been triggered.Comment: 55 Pages, 32 figures. Accepted for publication in A

Traditional Chinese medicine combination therapy for patients with steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT 2013 Checklist: recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. (DOC 133 kb

Interaction of a symmetrical α,α',δ,δ'-Tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril with Ln³⁺ : potential applications for isolation of lanthanides

The interaction of a symmetrical α,α′,δ,δ′-tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) with a series of lanthanide cations (Ln³⁺) was investigated in neutral water and in acidic solution. Analysis by single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that different isomorphous families formed under different synthetic conditions. Such differences in the interaction between TMeQ[6] and Ln³⁺ could potentially be used for isolating heavier Ln³⁺ from their lighter counterparts in neutral solution, and lighter lanthanide cations from their heavier counterparts in acidic solution

Treatment of Linear and Nonlinear Dielectric Property of Molecular Monolayer and Submonolayer with Microscopic Dipole Lattice Model: I. Second Harmonic Generation and Sum-Frequency Generation

In the currently accepted models of the nonlinear optics, the nonlinear radiation was treated as the result of an infinitesimally thin polarization sheet layer, and a three layer model was generally employed. The direct consequence of this approach is that an apriori dielectric constant, which still does not have a clear definition, has to be assigned to this polarization layer. Because the Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) and the Sum-Frequency Generation vibrational Spectroscopy (SFG-VS) have been proven as the sensitive probes for interfaces with the submonolayer coverage, the treatment based on the more realistic discrete induced dipole model needs to be developed. Here we show that following the molecular optics theory approach the SHG, as well as the SFG-VS, radiation from the monolayer or submonolayer at an interface can be rigorously treated as the radiation from an induced dipole lattice at the interface. In this approach, the introduction of the polarization sheet is no longer necessary. Therefore, the ambiguity of the unaccounted dielectric constant of the polarization layer is no longer an issue. Moreover, the anisotropic two dimensional microscopic local field factors can be explicitly expressed with the linear polarizability tensors of the interfacial molecules. Based on the planewise dipole sum rule in the molecular monolayer, crucial experimental tests of this microscopic treatment with SHG and SFG-VS are discussed. Many puzzles in the literature of surface SHG and SFG spectroscopy studies can also be understood or resolved in this framework. This new treatment may provide a solid basis for the quantitative analysis in the surface SHG and SFG studies.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

Physiological Ischemic Training Promotes Brain Collateral Formation and Improves Functions in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Objectives: To observe the effectiveness and mechanisms of physiological ischemic training (PIT) on brain cerebral collateral formation and functional recovery in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods: 20 eligible patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly assigned to either PIT group (n = 10) or Control group (n = 10). Both groups received 4 weeks of routine rehabilitation therapy, while an additional session of PIT, which consisted of 10 times of maximal voluntary isometric handgrip for 1 min followed by 1 min rest, was prescribed for patients in the PIT groups. Each patient was trained with four sections a day and 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and the short-form 36-item health survey questionnaire (SF-36) were applied for the evaluation of motor impairment, activity of daily living, and quality of life at the baseline and endpoint. MRI was applied to detect the collateral formation in the brain. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number in plasma were also tested at the endpoint.Results: Demographic data were consistent between experimental groups. At the endpoint, the scores of the FMA, MBI, and SF-36 were significantly higher than that at baseline. As compared to the Control group, the score of FMA and SF-36 in PIT group was significantly higher, while no significant difference was detected between groups in terms of MBI. Both groups had significantly higher cerebral blood flow (CBF) level at endpoint as compared to that at baseline. Moreover, the CBF level was even higher in the PIT group as compared to that in the Control group after 4 weeks of training. The same situations were also found in the plasma VEGF and EPCs assessment. In addition, positive correlations were found between FMA score and CBF level (r = 0.686, p < 0.01), CBF level and VEGF concentration (r = 0.675, p < 0.01), and VEGF concentration and EPC number (r = 0.722, p < 0.01).Conclusion: PIT may be effective in increasing the expression of VEGF and recruitment of EPCs and in turn promote the formation of brain collateral circulation. The positive correlations may demonstrate a potential association between biological and functional parameters, and PIT may be able to improve the motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life in patients with stroke.Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineerin

Optimal estimation and control for lossy network: stability, convergence, and performance

In this paper, we study the problems of optimal estimation and control, i.e., the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control, for systems with packet losses but without acknowledgment. Such acknowledgment is a signal sent by the actuator to inform the estimator of the incidence of control packet losses. For such system, which is usually called as a user datagram protocol (UDP)-like system, the optimal estimation is nonlinear and its calculation is time-consuming, making its corresponding optimal LQG problem complicated. We first propose two conditions: 1) the sensor has some computation abilities; and 2) the control command, exerted to the plant, is known to the sensor. For a UDP-like system satisfying these two conditions, we derive the optimal estimation. By constructing the finite and infinite product probability measure spaces for the estimation error covariances (EEC), we give the stability condition for the expected EEC, and show the existence of a measurable function to which the EEC converges in distribution, and propose some practical methods to evaluate the estimation performance. Finally, the LQG controllers are derived, and the conditions for the mean square stability of the closed-loop system are established