We present single-Sérsic two-dimensional (2D) model fits to 167 600 galaxies modelled independently in the ugrizYJHK bandpasses using reprocessed Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release Seven (SDSS ...DR7) and UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Large Area Survey imaging data available from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) data base. In order to facilitate this study we developed Structural Investigation of Galaxies via Model Analysis (sigma), an r wrapper around several contemporary astronomy software packages including source extractor, psf extractor and galfit 3. sigma produces realistic 2D model fits to galaxies, employing automatic adaptive background subtraction and empirical point spread function measurements on the fly for each galaxy in GAMA. Using these results, we define a common coverage area across the three GAMA regions containing 138 269 galaxies. We provide Sérsic magnitudes truncated at 10r
e which show good agreement with SDSS Petrosian and GAMA photometry for low Sérsic index systems (n < 4), and much improved photometry for high Sérsic index systems (n > 4), recovering as much as Δm= 0.5 mag in the r band. We employ a K-band Sérsic index/u−r colour relation to delineate the massive (n > ∼2) early-type galaxies (ETGs) from the late-type galaxies (LTGs). The mean Sérsic index of these ETGs shows a smooth variation with wavelength, increasing by 30 per cent from g through K. LTGs exhibit a more extreme change in Sérsic index, increasing by 52 per cent across the same range. In addition, ETGs and LTGs exhibit a 38 and 25 per cent decrease, respectively, in half-light radius from g through K. These trends are shown to arise due to the effects of dust attenuation and stellar population/metallicity gradients within galaxy populations.
Two commonly used methods for cyanotoxin analysis are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Each method has its advantages and ...disadvantages, and discrepancies are commonly observed between the two methods due to various factors including the ELISA antibody cross-reacting to different cyanotoxin congeners. However, reliable cyanotoxin monitoring methods and accurate interpretation of results are needed for water utilities to guide recreational water planning and drinking water treatment operations. In this study, we explored an innovative “effective concentration-equivalent concentration” (EC-EQ) approach to improve the interpretation of ELISA results and the comparison to LC-MS/MS results. The precision of ELISA results was first improved by reporting the sample ECs and EQs derived from their ELISA dose curves. Concentrations of each cyanotoxin as measured by LC-MS/MS were then combined with their respective ELISA cross-reactivities to calculate their theoretical ELISA responses. Finally, instead of comparing the results from the two methods directly, the equivalent concentration based on one single reference cyanotoxin was used for reporting and comparison. This integrated mass balance-based approach provides a more reliable interpretation of results by considering the reactivity differences between toxins as well as their mixture effects. This approach has been successfully applied to microcystin (one main group of cyanotoxins) standard mixtures and cyanobacterial bloom samples to interpret and compare their ELISA and LC-MS/MS detection results. The study provides guidance to utilities on how to obtain more accurate cyanotoxin monitoring results and better understand the discrepancy between the two methods.
We report the morphological classification of 3727 galaxies from the Galaxy and Mass Assembly survey with M
r
< −17.4 mag and in the redshift range 0.025 < z < 0.06 (2.1 × 105 Mpc3) into E, S0-Sa, ...SB0-SBa, Sab-Scd, SBab-SBcd, Sd-Irr and little blue spheroid classes. Approximately 70 per cent of galaxies in our sample are disc-dominated systems, with the remaining ∼30 per cent spheroid dominated. We establish the robustness of our classifications, and use them to derive morphological-type luminosity functions and luminosity densities in the ugrizYJHK passbands, improving on prior studies that split by global colour or light profile shape alone. We find that the total galaxy luminosity function is best described by a double-Schechter function while the constituent morphological-type luminosity functions are well described by a single-Schechter function. These data are also used to derive the star formation rate densities for each Hubble class, and the attenuated and unattenuated (corrected for dust) cosmic spectral energy distributions, i.e. the instantaneous energy production budget. While the observed optical/near-IR energy budget is dominated 58:42 by galaxies with a significant spheroidal component, the actual energy production rate is reversed, i.e. the combined disc-dominated populations generate ∼1.3 times as much energy as the spheroid-dominated populations. On the grandest scale, this implies that chemical evolution in the local Universe is currently largely confined to mid-type spiral classes like our Milky Way.
Aim Reproductive traits are important mediators of establishment and spread of introduced species, both directly and through interactions with other life-history traits and extrinsic factors. We ...identify features of the reproductive biology of Australian acacias associated with invasiveness. Location Global. Methods We reviewed the pollination biology, seed biology and alternative modes of reproduction of Australian acacias using primary literature, online searches and unpublished data. We used comparative analyses incorporating an Acacia phylogeny to test for associations between invasiveness and eight reproductive traits in a group of introduced and invasive (23) and non-invasive (129) species. We also explore the distribution of groups of trait 'syndromes' between invasive and non-invasive species. Results Reproductive trait data were only available for 126 of 152 introduced species in our data set, representing 23/23 invasive and 103/129 non-invasive species. These data suggest that invasives reach reproductive maturity earlier (10/13 within 2 years vs. 7/26 for non-invasives) and are more commonly able to resprout (11/21 vs. 13/54), although only time to reproductive maturity was significant when phylogenetic relationships were controlled for. Our qualitative survey of the literature suggests that invasive species in general tend to have generalist pollination systems, prolific seed production, efficient seed dispersal and the accumulation of large and persistent seed banks that often have fire-, heat- or disturbance-triggered germination cues. Conclusions Invasive species respond quicker to disturbance than non-invasive taxa. Traits found to be significant in our study require more in-depth analysis involving data for a broader array of species given how little is known of the reproductive biology of so many taxa in this species-rich genus. Sets of reproductive traits characteristic of invasive species and a general ability to reproduce effectively in new locations are widespread in Australian acacias. Unless there is substantial evidence to the contrary, care should be taken with all introductions.
In order to generate credible 0.1-2 μm spectral energy distributions, the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) project requires many gigabytes of imaging data from a number of instruments to be ...reprocessed into a standard format. In this paper, we discuss the software infrastructure we use, and create self-consistent ugrizYJHK photometry for all sources within the GAMA sample. Using UKIDSS and SDSS archive data, we outline the pre-processing necessary to standardize all images to a common zero-point, the steps taken to correct for the seeing bias across the data set and the creation of gigapixel-scale mosaics of the three 4 × 12 deg2 GAMA regions in each filter. From these mosaics, we extract source catalogues for the GAMA regions using elliptical Kron and Petrosian matched apertures. We also calculate Sérsic magnitudes for all galaxies within the GAMA sample using sigma, a galaxy component modelling wrapper for galfit 3. We compare the resultant photometry directly and also calculate the r-band galaxy luminosity function for all photometric data sets to highlight the uncertainty introduced by the photometric method. We find that (1) changing the object detection threshold has a minor effect on the best-fitting Schechter parameters of the overall population (M*± 0.055 mag, α± 0.014, ϕ*± 0.0005 h
3 Mpc−3); (2) there is an offset between data sets that use Kron or Petrosian photometry, regardless of the filter; (3) the decision to use circular or elliptical apertures causes an offset in M* of 0.20 mag; (4) the best-fitting Schechter parameters from total-magnitude photometric systems (such as SDSS modelmag or Sérsic magnitudes) have a steeper faint-end slope than photometric systems based upon Kron or Petrosian measurements; and (5) our Universe's total luminosity density, when calculated using Kron or Petrosian r-band photometry, is underestimated by at least 15 per cent.
Measurement of the evolution of both active galactic nuclei (AGN) and star-formation in galaxies underpins our understanding of galaxy evolution over cosmic time. Radio continuum observations can ...provide key information on these two processes, in particular via the mechanical feedback produced by radio jets in AGN, and via an unbiased dust-independent measurement of star formation rates. In this paper, we determine radio luminosity functions at 325 MHz for a sample of AGN and star-forming galaxies by matching a 138 deg2 radio survey conducted with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, with optical imaging and redshifts from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey. We find that the radio luminosity function at 325 MHz for star-forming galaxies closely follows that measured at 1.4 GHz. By fitting the AGN radio luminosity function out to z = 0.5 as a double power law, and parametrizing the evolution as Φ ∝ (1 + z)
k
, we find evolution parameters of k = 0.92 ± 0.95 assuming pure density evolution and k = 2.13 ± 1.96 assuming pure luminosity evolution. We find that the Low Excitation Radio Galaxies are the dominant population in space density at lower luminosities. Comparing our 325 MHz observations with radio continuum imaging at 1.4 GHz, we determine separate radio luminosity functions for steep- and flat-spectrum AGN, and show that the beamed population of flat-spectrum sources in our sample can be shifted in number density and luminosity to coincide with the unbeamed population of steep-spectrum sources, as is expected in the orientation-based unification of AGN.
Abstract
Background
The majority of older people (> 65 years) in hospital have frailty and are at increased risk of readmission or death following discharge home. In the UK, following acute ...hospitalisation, around one third of older people with frailty are referred on for rehabilitation, termed ‘intermediate care’ services. Although this rehabilitation can reduce early readmission to hospital (< 30 days), recipients often do not feel ready to leave the service on discharge, suggesting possible incomplete recovery. Limited evidence suggests extended rehabilitation is of benefit in several conditions and there is preliminary evidence that progressive physical exercise can improve mobility and function for older people with frailty, and slow progression to disability. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Home-based Older People’s Exercise (HOPE) programme as extended rehabilitation for older people with frailty discharged home from hospital or intermediate care services after acute illness or injury.
Methods
A multi-centre individually randomised controlled trial, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the HOPE programme. This individualised, graded and progressive 24-week exercise programme is delivered by NHS physiotherapy teams to people aged 65 and older with frailty, identified using the Clinical Frailty Scale, following discharge from acute hospitalisation and linked intermediate care rehabilitation pathways. The primary outcome is physical health-related quality of life, measured using the physical component summary score of the modified Short Form 36- item health questionnaire (SF36) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include self-reported physical and mental health, functional independence, death, hospitalisations, care home admissions. Plans include health economic analyses and an embedded process evaluation.
Discussion
This trial seeks to determine if extended rehabilitation, via the HOPE programme, can improve physical health-related quality of life for older people with frailty following acute hospitalisation. Results will improve awareness of the rehabilitation needs of older people with frailty, and provide evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the targeted exercise intervention. There is potential for considerable benefit for health and social care services through widespread implementation of trial findings if clinical and cost-effectiveness is demonstrated.
Trial registration
ISRCTN 13927531
. Registered on April 19, 2017.
Variabilities in commercial cyanotoxin standards Jia, Ai; Prescott, Matthew D.; Guo, Yingbo C. ...
AWWA water science,
March/April 2023, 2023-03-00, 20230301, Volume:
5, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Cyanotoxin standards are commercially available from various suppliers. To investigate the potential impact of different sources on the comparability of cyanotoxin monitoring results among different ...methods and studies, this study evaluated the quality of 86 cyanotoxin standards from nine vendors via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Substantial variabilities between vendors (up to 60%) and between lots (up to 98%) were observed for most of the standards. In addition, some of the microcystin standards had up to 11% of other microcystins as impurities. Compared to non‐certified analytical standards, certified standards showed much better agreement, with standards variations below 15% for all tested toxins. This study highlights the importance of developing and applying unified and certified standards for cyanotoxin analysis to improve the consistency and comparability of results. If different sources/lots of standards are used, they need to be cross‐checked to evaluate the potential impacts on results.
Two commonly used methods for cyanotoxin analysis are enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Two rounds of interlaboratory ...comparisons of ELISA and LC–MS/MS analyses were conducted with 12 participating laboratories to evaluate method performances in various matrices, including cyanobacterial bloom and drinking water samples. Fifteen cyanotoxins, including 12 microcystin variants, nodularin, anatoxin‐a, and cylindrospermopsin were evaluated. The impact of sample matrices, preservatives, and quenching reagents was assessed, and no substantial effects were observed. Overall, comparable results were obtained among laboratories performing ELISA and LC–MS/MS analyses, respectively. ELISA results for fortified samples matched more closely with those from LC–MS/MS when microcystin cross‐reactivities were considered, providing data 26% closer to theoretical values on average. This study demonstrates that understanding the effect of cross‐reactivities when comparing ELISA and LC–MS/MS results and considering potential variabilities in commercial standards is important when interpreting data from these two methods.
ABSTRACT
The morphological classification of radio sources is important to gain a full understanding of galaxy evolution processes and their relation with local environmental properties. Furthermore, ...the complex nature of the problem, its appeal for citizen scientists, and the large data rates generated by existing and upcoming radio telescopes combine to make the morphological classification of radio sources an ideal test case for the application of machine learning techniques. One approach that has shown great promise recently is convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Literature, however, lacks two major things when it comes to CNNs and radio galaxy morphological classification. First, a proper analysis of whether overfitting occurs when training CNNs to perform radio galaxy morphological classification using a small curated training set is needed. Secondly, a good comparative study regarding the practical applicability of the CNN architectures in literature is required. Both of these shortcomings are addressed in this paper. Multiple performance metrics are used for the latter comparative study, such as inference time, model complexity, computational complexity, and mean per class accuracy. As part of this study, we also investigate the effect that receptive field, stride length, and coverage have on recognition performance. For the sake of completeness, we also investigate the recognition performance gains that we can obtain by employing classification ensembles. A ranking system based upon recognition and computational performance is proposed. MCRGNet, Radio Galaxy Zoo, and ConvXpress (novel classifier) are the architectures that best balance computational requirements with recognition performance.
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