We measure and analyse the bispectrum of the final data release 12 (DR12), galaxy sample provided by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, splitting by selection algorithm into LOWZ and CMASS ...galaxies. The LOWZ sample contains 361 762 galaxies with an effective redshift of z sub( LOWZ) = 0.32, and the CMASS sample contains 777 202 galaxies with an effective redshift of z sub( CMASS) = 0.57. Combining the power spectrum, measured relative to the line of sight, with the spherically averaged bispectrum, we are able to constrain the product of the growth of structure parameter, f, and the amplitude of dark matter density fluctuations, ..., along with the geometric Alcock-Paczynski parameters, the product of the Hubble constant and the comoving sound horizon at the baryon drag epoch, H(z)r sub( s)(z sub( d)), and the angular distance parameter divided by the sound horizon, D sub( A)(z)/r sub( s)(z sub( d)). After combining pre-reconstruction RSD analyses of the power spectrum monopole, quadrupole and bispectrum monopole with post-reconstruction analysis of the BAO power spectrum monopole and quadrupole, we find f(z sub( LOWZ))...(z sub( LOWZ)) = 0.427 plus or minus 0.056, D sub( A)(z sub( LOWZ))/r sub( s)(z sub( d)) = 6.60 plus or minus 0.13, H(z sub( LOWZ))r sub( s)(z sub( d)) = (11.55 plus or minus 0.38)10 super( 3) km s super( -1) for the LOWZ sample, and f(z sub( CMASS))...(z sub( CMASS)) = 0.426 plus or minus 0.029, D sub( A)(z sub( CMASS))/r sub( s)(z sub( d)) = 9.39 plus or minus 0.10, H(z sub( CMASS))r sub( s)(z sub( d)) = (14.02 plus or minus 0.22)10 super( 3) km s super( -1) for the CMASS sample. We find general agreement with previous Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey DR11 and DR12 measurements. Combining our data set with Planck15 we perform a null test of General Relativity through the ...-parametrization finding ...=0.733..., which is ~2.7... away from the General Relativity predictions. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
We present baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) scale measurements determined from the clustering of 1.2 million massive galaxies with redshifts 0.2 < z < 0.75 distributed over 9300 deg super( 2), as ...quantified by their redshift-space correlation function. In order to facilitate these measurements, we define, describe, and motivate the selection function for galaxies in the final data release (DR12) of the SDSS III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). This includes the observational footprint, masks for image quality and Galactic extinction, and weights to account for density relationships intrinsic to the imaging and spectroscopic portions of the survey. We simulate the observed systematic trends in mock galaxy samples and demonstrate that they impart no bias on BAO scale measurements and have a minor impact on the recovered statistical uncertainty. We measure transverse and radial BAO distance measurements in 0.2 < z < 0.5, 0.5 < z < 0.75, and (overlapping) 0.4 < z < 0.6 redshift bins. In each redshift bin, we obtain a precision that is 2.7 per cent or better on the radial distance and 1.6 per cent or better on the transverse distance. The combination of the redshift bins represents 1.8 per cent precision on the radial distance and 1.1 per cent precision on the transverse distance. This paper is part of a set that analyses the final galaxy clustering data set from BOSS. The measurements and likelihoods presented here are combined with others in Alam et al. to produce the final cosmological constraints from BOSS.
Abstract
Fibre-fed multi-object spectroscopic surveys, with their ability to collect an unprecedented number of redshifts, currently dominate large-scale structure studies. However, physical ...constraints limit these surveys from successfully collecting redshifts from galaxies too close to each other on the focal plane. This ultimately leads to significant systematic effects on galaxy clustering measurements. Using simulated mock catalogues, we demonstrate that fibre collisions have a significant impact on the power spectrum, P(k), monopole and quadrupole that exceeds sample variance at scales smaller than k ∼ 0.1 h Mpc−1. We present two methods to account for fibre collisions in the power spectrum. The first, statistically reconstructs the clustering of fibre-collided galaxy pairs by modelling the distribution of the line-of-sight displacements between them. It also properly accounts for fibre collisions in the shot-noise correction term of the P(k) estimator. Using this method, we recover the true P(k) monopole of the mock catalogues with residuals of <0.5 per cent at k = 0.3 h Mpc−1 and <4 per cent at k = 0.83 h Mpc−1 – a significant improvement over existing correction methods. The quadrupole, however, does not improve significantly. The second method models the effect of fibre collisions on the power spectrum as a convolution with a configuration space top-hat function that depends on the physical scale of fibre collisions. It directly computes theoretical predictions of the fibre-collided P(k) multipoles and reduces the influence of smaller scales to a set of nuisance parameters. Using this method, we reliably model the effect of fibre collisions on the monopole and quadrupole down to the scale limits of theoretical predictions. The methods we present in this paper will allow us to robustly analyse galaxy power spectrum multipole measurements to much smaller scales than previously possible.
Assessing the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on agricultural soils is crucial for ensuring food production sustainability in the global effort to combat climate change. The present study ...delves to comprehensively assess GHG emissions in Cuba's agricultural soil and analyze its implications for rice production and climate change because of its rich agriculture cultivation tradition and diverse agro-ecological zones from the period of 1990–2022. In this research, based on Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach the empirical findings depicts that in short run, a positive and significant impact of 1.60 percent % in Cuba's rice production. The higher amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels improves photosynthesis, and stimulates the growth of rice plants, resulting in greater grain yields. On the other hand, rice production index raising GHG emissions from agriculture by 0.35 % in the short run. Furthermore, a significant and positive impact on rice production is found in relation to the farm machinery i.e., 3.1 %. Conversely, an adverse and significant impact of land quality was observed on rice production i.e., −5.5 %. The reliability of models was confirmed by CUSUM and CUSUM square plot. Diagnostic tests ensure the absence of serial correlation and heteroscedasticity in the models. Additionally, the forecasting results are obtained from the three machine learning models i.e. feed forward neural network (FFNN), support vector machines (SVM) and adaptive boosting technique (Adaboost). Through the % MAPE criterion, it is evident that FFNN has achieved high precision (91 %). Based on the empirical findings, the study proposed the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and incentives should be given to the farmers so that future generations inherit a world that is sustainable, and healthy.
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•Data-driven analysis of rice production and GHG emissions from Cuba's farm soil.•FFNN model has achieved high accuracy (<10 %) for GHG emission and rice production.•1 % increase in GHG emissions from agriculture raises rice production by 1.60 %.•1 % rise in rice production recently raises GHG emissions from agriculture by 0.35 %.•ARDL based machine learning has been employed to explore complex interrelations.
We present the clustering measurements of quasars in configuration space based on the Data Release 14 (DR14) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey ...(eBOSS). This data set includes 148 659 quasars spread over the redshift range 0.8 ≤ z ≤ 2.2 and spanning 2112.9 deg^2. We use the Convolution Lagrangian Perturbation Theory approach with a Gaussian Streaming model for the redshift space distortions of the correlation function and demonstrate its applicability for dark matter haloes hosting eBOSS quasar tracers. At the effective redshift z_eff = 1.52, we measure the linear growth rate of structure fσ_8(z_eff) = 0.426 ± 0.077, the expansion rate $$H(z_{\rm eff})= 159^{+12}_{-13}(r_{{\rm s}}^{\rm fid}/r_{\rm s})\,{\rm {\rm }km s}^{-1} {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$$, and the angular diameter distance $$D_{{\rm A}}(z_{\rm eff})=1850^{+90}_{-115}\,(r_{\rm s}/r_{{\rm s}}^{\rm fid})\,{\rm {\rm }Mpc}$$, where r_s is the sound horizon at the end of the baryon drag epoch and $$r_{{\rm s}}^{\rm fid}$$ is its value in the fiducial cosmology. The quoted uncertainties include both systematic and statistical contributions. The results on the evolution of distances are consistent with the predictions of flat Λ-cold dark matter cosmology with Planck parameters, and the measurement of fσ_8 extends the validity of General Relativity to higher redshifts (z > 1). This paper is released with companion papers using the same sample. The results on the cosmological parameters of the studies are found to be in very good agreement, providing clear evidence of the complementarity and of the robustness of the first full-shape clustering measurements with the eBOSS DR14 quasar sample.
Summary
Background
Chronic hepatitis delta is a severe liver disease with rapid progression to cirrhosis. The impact of hepatitis delta virus (HDV)‐RNA on disease progression and interferon treatment ...in a real‐world cohort has been barely explored.
Aim
To assess the development of clinical events in a cohort of chronic hepatitis delta patients according to the presence or absence of HDV‐RNA
Methods
Multicentre study at four academic hospitals in Spain included anti‐HDV‐positive patients with compensated liver disease with a follow‐up ≥12 months.
Results
Among 2888 HBsAg‐positive subjects, 151 (5.2%) tested positive for anti‐HDV, and 118 were included (58% men; median age, 49 years; 73% detectable HDV‐RNA and 30% cirrhosis, most often in subjects with HDV‐RNA). After a median follow‐up of 8 years, subjects with initially detectable HDV‐RNA were more prone to developing cirrhosis (31% vs 0%, P = .002) and/or liver decompensation (28% vs 3%, P = .019). Mortality rate was 0.44 per 1000 person‐months. The probability of a clinical event was 6%, 25%, and 80% according to initial baseline‐event‐anticipation score. HDV‐RNA became undetectable in 21 (24%) subjects either due to interferon or spontaneously (48% vs 52%, P = .29). Liver decompensation was reduced in interferon‐treated patients (13% vs 38%, P = .026).
Conclusions
Subjects with persistently positive HDV‐RNA had a worse prognosis in terms of clinical events. Baseline‐event‐anticipation score is useful in predicting the risk of developing liver decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon was beneficial in reducing liver decompensation, even in the absence of virological response.
LINKED CONTENTThis article is linked to Sonneveld and de Knegt and Palom et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15549 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15558.
We present a study of the clustering and halo occupation distribution of Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) CMASS galaxies in the redshift range 0.43 < z < 0.7 drawn from the Final ...SDSS-III Data Release. We compare the BOSS results with the predictions of a halo abundance matching (HAM) clustering model that assigns galaxies to dark matter haloes selected from the large BigMultiDark N-body simulation of a flat ... cold dark matter Planck cosmology. We compare the observational data with the simulated ones on a light cone constructed from 20 subsequent outputs of the simulation. Observational effects such as incompleteness, geometry, veto masks and fibre collisions are included in the model, which reproduces within 1... errors the observed monopole of the two-point correlation function at all relevant scales: from the smallest scales, 0.5 h super( -1) Mpc, up to scales beyond the baryon acoustic oscillation feature. This model also agrees remarkably well with the BOSS galaxy power spectrum (up to k ~ 1 h Mpc super( -1)), and the three-point correlation function. The quadrupole of the correlation function presents some tensions with observations. We discuss possible causes that can explain this disagreement, including target selection effects. Overall, the standard HAM model describes remarkably well the clustering statistics of the CMASS sample. We compare the stellar-to-halo mass relation for the CMASS sample measured using weak lensing in the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Stripe 82 Survey with the prediction of our clustering model, and find a good agreement within 1... The BigMD-BOSS light cone including properties of BOSS galaxies and halo properties is made publicly available. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are receiving significant attention due to its global distribution, high persistence, and bioaccumulation properties. Among them, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one ...of the most commonly found in the environment. The strong bond C–F in PFOA is extremely difficult to degrade, therefore advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) at room temperature and pressure are not able to oxidize them, as was noticed here using Fenton like reagent (FR) or persulfate (PS) at 25°C. On the contrary, by using persulfate activated by heat (100mM and T=70°C) a complete defluorination of PFOA 0.1mM was noticed after 18h, with a sequential degradation mechanism of losing one CF2 unit from PFOA and its intermediates (perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)).
Since this thermal treatment is not usually desirable from an economical point of view, alternative process has been tested. For this scope, a hybrid process is proposed in this work, by adding humic acid, HA, (600mgL−1) and FR, (165mM in H2O2 and 3mM in Fe3+) to the 0.1mM PFOA solution. It was found that the HA was oxidized by FR. PFOA was entrapped quantitatively and irreversibly during HA oxidation, resulting PFOA non-available to the aqueous phase. Oxidized HA with PFOA entrapped precipitates. Both, the leftover Fe(III) acting as a coagulant and neutral pH enhance the separation of this solid phase. The precipitation noticed by adding HA to the PFOA solution in absence of FR was negligible.
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•PFOA was not degraded when Fenton-like or persulfate were used at mild conditions.•Thermal activation of PS at 70°C allows PFOA removal and defluorination after 18h.•Application of thermally activated persulfate is limited by energy costs.•Proposed hybrid adds humic acid and Fenton-like reagent at 25°C to the PFOA solution.•PFOA was irreversibly entrapped during humic acid oxidation and precipitation.
Treatment of polluted wastewaters from industrial activities has become a source of major concern for the environment. In this work, real wastewater from a physico-chemical (WWFQ) treatment was ...tested through different oxidation technologies: Fenton and Fenton-like reagent and persulfate activated by NaOH and Fe(II).
Oxidation reactions with Fenton's reagent were carried out in a 0.25 L batch reactor at 25 °C by adding either Fe(II) or Fe(III) and H2O2 to an aqueous solution of wastewater, whose pH was previously adjusted to 2 or 3. Iron concentration ranging from 25 to 100 mg/L and peroxide concentration from 2500 to 10000 mg/L were used.
The total organic carbon slightly decreased when WWFQ was treated. Moreover, better results were obtained when Fe(II) was used than Fe(III). Both iron concentration and oxidant dosage had a positive influence on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, until an asymptotic value of 30% was obtained.
Oxidation of pollutants contained in WWFQ was studied with persulfate (18.4–294 mM) activated with NaOH and Fe(II) (36.8–588 mM). Again, a positive influence of both persulfate and NaOH was observed, although a similar asymptotic COD value was observed. This parallelism between both technologies confirms recalcitrant compounds were obtained.
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•Real wastewater was treated with Fenton and Fenton-like reagent.•Persulfate activated by NaOH and Fe(II) was used to remediate a real wastewater.•Color of the samples was effectively removed by the treatments studied.•Asymptotic COD of 30% was obtained regardless the oxidation technology applied.•Oxidation routes were proposed from characterization of reaction intermediates.
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Drugs encapsulation is a suitable strategy in order to cope with the limitations of conventional dosage forms such as unsuitable bioavailability, stability, taste, and odor. ...Nanoprecipitation technique has been used in the pharmaceutical and agricultural research as clean alternative for other drug carrier formulations. This technique is based on precipitation mechanism. Polymer precipitation occurs after the addition of a non-solvent to a polymer solution in four steps mechanism: supersaturation, nucleation, growth by condensation, and growth by coagulation that leads to the formation of polymer nanoparticles or aggregates. The scale-up of laboratory-based nanoprecipitation method shows a good reproducibility. In addition, flash nanoprecipitation is a good strategy for industrial scale production of nanoparticles. Nanoprecipitation is usually used for encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic compounds. Nanoprecipitation was also shown to be a good alternative for the encapsulation of natural compounds. As a whole, process and formulation related parameters in nanoprecipitation technique have critical effect on nanoparticles characteristics. Biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymers have been used for the preparation of nanoparticles intended to in vivo studies. Literature studies have demonstrated the biodistribution of the active loaded nanoparticles in different organs after administration via various routes. In general, in vitro drug release from nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation includes two phases: a first phase of “burst release” which is followed by a second phase of prolonged release. Moreover, many encapsulated active molecules have been commercialized in the pharmaceutical market.