We present weak lensing and X-ray analysis of 12 low-mass clusters from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey and XMM-CFHTLS surveys. We combine these systems with high-mass systems from ...Canadian Cluster Comparison Project and low-mass systems from Cosmic Evolution Survey to obtain a sample of 70 systems, spanning over two orders of magnitude in mass. We measure core-excised L
X–T
X, M–L
X and M–T
X scaling relations and include corrections for observational biases. By providing fully bias-corrected relations, we give the current limitations for L
X and T
X as cluster mass proxies. We demonstrate that T
X benefits from a significantly lower intrinsic scatter at fixed mass than L
X. By studying the residuals of the bias-corrected relations, we show for the first time using weak lensing masses that galaxy groups seem more luminous and warmer for their mass than clusters. This implies a steepening of the M–L
X and M–T
X relations at low masses. We verify the inferred steepening using a different high-mass sample from the literature and show that variance between samples is the dominant effect leading to discrepant scaling relations. We divide our sample into subsamples of merging and relaxed systems, and find that mergers may have enhanced scatter in lensing measurements, most likely due to stronger triaxiality and more substructure. For the L
X–T
X relation, which is unaffected by lensing measurements, we find the opposite trend in scatter. We also explore the effects of X-ray cross-calibration and find that Chandra calibration leads to flatter L
X–T
X and M–T
X relations than XMM–Newton.
Abstract
Radiant cooling systems are being increasingly promoted because of their energy efficient operation as well as their potential to improve occupants’ thermal comfort due to a draft-free ...cooling process. This paper focuses on a specific radiant cooling approach, which was introduced in previous contributions. This approach involves the positioning of relatively small-sized vertical radiant panels in the close proximity to occupants. Furthermore, the panels incorporate drainage systems or collection elements to accommodate, if needed, water vapour condensation. Consequently, the surface temperature of the radiant panels does not need to stay above the dew point temperature. We present the outcome of a preliminary experimental investigation of such a personal radiant cooling system. In this context, prototypical radiant panels were installed in a laboratory and multiple experiments were conducted. The uniformity level of the panels’ surface temperature distribution was documented. Moreover, near-panel air flow velocities were measured at several positions. Likewise, the formation of condensed water on panels was observed for different panel surface temperatures, room temperatures, and room humidity levels. The results of the preliminary laboratory investigation do not point to any risk of draft or turbulence discomfort.
•Aflatoxins challenge depressed humoral and cellular immunity in broilers.•Mannanoligosaccharides supplementation improved immunological responses in chicks.•Mannanoligosaccharides increased humoral ...immunity aflatoxin-challenge broilers.•Mannanoligosaccharides improved cellular immunity in aflatoxin-challenge chicks.•Mannanoligosaccharides modulated immunological gene expressions in aflatoxicated birds.
The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on expression of hepatic immunological genes and immune responses in aflatoxin-contaminated broiler chicks. A total of 336 seven-day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 7 experimental treatments with 4 replicates and 12 birds per replicate. Experimental treatments consisted of 2 aflatoxin levels (0.5 and 2 ppm) and 3 supplemental MOS levels (0, 1 and 2 g/kg) as a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in comparison with a control group (unchallenged group). The chicks were challenged with a mix of aflatoxins during 7–28 d of age. Results showed that aflatoxin challenge resulted in the lower antibody titers against infectious bronchitis (IBV) and bursal (IBD) diseases viruses. In addition, aflatoxin-contaminated birds had a lower (P < 0.0001) lymphocyte percentage and a decline in (P < 0.01) interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA abundance. Likewise, heterophil proportion, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and gene expressions of hepatic interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C reactive protein (CRP) were raised (P < 0.001) by increasing dietary aflatoxin level. Dietary inclusion of MOS increased (P < 0.05) antibody titers against IBV, IBD and Newcastle disease virus. Lymphocyte proportion and hepatic IL-2 gene expression were greater (P < 0.0001) in MOS-supplemented birds. Furthermore, supplemental MOS decreased hepatic IL-6 and CRP abundances. Additionally, inclusion of 2 g/kg MOS resulted in the upregulation (P < 0.01) of hepatic IL-2 gene expression in birds contaminated with 0.5 ppm aflatoxin. The present results indicate that supplemental MOS could improve cellular immunity via the upregulation of hepatic IL-2 gene expression in birds challenged with aflatoxins.
A fraction of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) show bright emission in the ultraviolet and the blue part of the optical spectrum, which has been interpreted as evidence of recent star formation. ...Most of these results are based on the analysis of broad-band photometric data. Here, we study the optical spectra of a sample of 19 BCGs hosted by X-ray luminous galaxy clusters at 0.15 <z < 0.3, a subset from the Canadian Cluster Comparison Project sample. We identify plausible star formation histories of the galaxies by fitting simple stellar populations as well as composite populations, consisting of a young stellar component superimposed on an intermediate/old stellar component, to accurately constrain their star formation histories. We detect prominent young (∼200 Myr) stellar populations in four of the 19 galaxies. Of the four, the BCG in Abell 1835 shows remarkable A-type stellar features indicating a relatively large population of young stars, which is extremely unusual even amongst star-forming BCGs. We constrain the mass contribution of these young components to the total stellar mass to be typically between 1 and 3 per cent, but rising to 7 per cent in Abell 1835. We find that the four of the BCGs with strong evidence for recent star formation (and only these four galaxies) are found within a projected distance of 5 kpc of their host cluster's X-ray peak, and the diffuse, X-ray gas surrounding the BCGs exhibits a ratio of the radiative cooling-to-free-fall time (t
c/t
ff) of ≤10. These are also some of the clusters with the lowest central entropy. Our results are consistent with the predictions of the precipitation-driven star formation and active galactic nucleus feedback model, in which the radiatively cooling diffuse gas is subject to local thermal instabilities once the instability parameter t
c/t
ff falls below ∼10, leading to the condensation and precipitation of cold gas. The number of galaxies in our sample where the host cluster satisfies all the criteria for recent and ongoing star formation is small, but their stellar populations suggest a time-scale for star formation to restart of the order of ∼200 Myr.
Abstract
The design of the lighting systems in conventional office environments is typically supported by domain specialists. However, the same is not true of home offices, whose arrangements ...frequently result from ad hoc and do-it-yourself activities. This circumstance may have ramifications for occupants’ health, comfort, and productivity, given the recent significant increase in home officing prevalence. In this context, the present contribution reports on a detailed case study of lighting conditions in a number of home office settings. Thereby, nine home offices (located in the city of Izmir, Turkey) were investigated. The home offices serve a variety of professionals. The study involved measurements under daylight and electrical light conditions. Moreover, simulations were conducted to explore improvement opportunities. The investigation results point to a highly uneven level of performance across the selected cases. The visual conditions were found to be generally better under daylighting conditions, despite some instances of excessive illuminance. Electrical lighting analysis results reveal in many cases insufficient light levels due, in part, to unsuitable types and positions of the luminaires. Simulation-based optimization exercises suggest that the visual conditions in the studied home offices can be considerably improved via changes in the number and types of the luminaires.
Abstract
The configuration of local building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) installations can benefit from computational support. Especially in cases where a high degree of energy self-sufficiency is ...desired, it is important to optimally match the temporal profiles of the building’s energy demand and the available solar radiation intensity. Typically, the building’s demand profile is taken as given, which is treated as the basis for the sizing and configuration of the PV installation. The computational approach framework introduced in this paper is intended to offer additional functionalities. Specifically, it is conceived to facilitate a bi-directional approach to supporting the design and configuration of PV installations. This approach not only informs the configuration of PV system based on the building’s demand profile, but also allows for the exploration of the consequences of the magnitude and temporal profile of the PV’s energy supply potential for the values of relevant building design variables (e.g., building orientation, fraction of glazing in the envelope). The paper presents this computational approach and its functionality in terms of an illustrative case study.
In patients with psychotic disorders, sleep spindles are reduced, supporting the hypothesis that the thalamus and glutamate receptors play a crucial etio-pathophysiological role, whose underlying ...mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesized that a reduced function of NMDA receptors is involved in the spindle deficit observed in schizophrenia.
An electrophysiological multisite cell-to-network exploration was used to investigate, in pentobarbital-sedated rats, the effects of a single psychotomimetic dose of the NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine in the sensorimotor and associative/cognitive thalamocortical (TC) systems.
Under the control condition, spontaneously-occurring spindles (intra-frequency: 10–16 waves/s) and delta-frequency (1–4 Hz) oscillations were recorded in the frontoparietal cortical EEG, in thalamic extracellular recordings, in dual juxtacellularly recorded GABAergic thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and glutamatergic TC neurons, and in intracellularly recorded TC neurons. The TRN cells rhythmically exhibited robust high-frequency bursts of action potentials (7 to 15 APs at 200–700 Hz). A single administration of low-dose ketamine fleetingly reduced TC spindles and delta oscillations, amplified ongoing gamma-(30–80 Hz) and higher-frequency oscillations, and switched the firing pattern of both TC and TRN neurons from a burst mode to a single AP mode. Furthermore, ketamine strengthened the gamma-frequency band TRN-TC connectivity. The antipsychotic clozapine consistently prevented the ketamine effects on spindles, delta- and gamma−/higher-frequency TC oscillations.
The present findings support the hypothesis that NMDA receptor hypofunction is involved in the reduction in sleep spindles and delta oscillations. The ketamine-induced swift conversion of ongoing TC-TRN activities may have involved at least both the ascending reticular activating system and the corticothalamic pathway.
•Transporting elastic liquids in microfluidic systems using viscous micropumps.•Characteristic curves of viscous micropumps while transporting elastic liquids.•Efficiency of viscous micropumps in ...transporting elastic liquids.
A rotating cylinder asymmetrically placed across a duct, with its axis perpendicular to the axis of the channel, has long established itself as a simple mechanism for the transport of Newtonian fluids in microfluidic channels. In the present study, the possibility of transporting viscoelastic fluids by this simple mechanism is numerically investigated using finite-volume method (FVM). For ease of analysis, we have relied on two-dimensional flow between two parallel plates for this purpose. To screen out the complicating effects of shear-dependent viscosity from the analysis, the viscoelastic fluid of interest is assumed to obey the Oldroyd-B model. Using finite-volume-method (RheoFoam solver) we have obtained converged creeping-flow results over a wide range of working parameters for Deborah numbers up to unity. Based on our obtained numerical results, it is concluded that a fluid's elasticity can negatively affect the performance of viscous micro-pumps. The drop in efficiency is predicted to increase the larger the Deborah number. At De = 1, the drop in efficiency is predicted to be around 30%, as compared with Newtonian fluids of the same viscosity. Since the drop in efficiency is not too excessive, viscous micropumps can be regarded as a viable option for the transport of moderately-elastic liquids, particularly in those microfluidic applications where efficiency is of secondary importance.
•Acidifying diets used to prevent hypocalcaemia can decrease feed intake.•We compared two different acidifying diets and a low Ca diet.•Prepartum feed intake was highest in the low Ca diet.•The low ...Ca diet was as suitable to stabilise Ca homoeostasis as the acidifying diets.•Acidification of the cows can reduce milk yield and protein content.
This study evaluates the effects of two rations with a positive dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) and varying Ca content and two anionic diets on mineral homoeostasis and performance in early lactation cows. For this purpose, 48 pregnant dairy cows stratified for mature equivalent milk production, parity, body condition score (BCS), and BW were randomly assigned to four treatment groups and fed the following rations during the last 3 weeks of gestation: LC: low Ca (0.24% Ca, 1.14% K, DCAD: +86 mEq/kg DM), HC: high Ca (1.23% Ca, 1.17% K, DCAD: +95 mEq/kg DM), AS: Anionic salt (1.21% Ca, 1.21% K, DCAD: −112 mEq/kg DM, and SC: SoyChlor (1.28% Ca, 1.16% K, DCAD: −115 mEq/kg DM). After parturition, all animals were fed a common postpartum diet. Data were collected until 21 days in milk. Urinary pH was significantly decreased with the AS and SC treatment in comparison to the LC and HC groups. The highest prepartum DM intake (DMI) was found in the LC group, while DMI in AS cows was lowest. Postpartum, DMI was significantly greater in LC and SC cows than in animals fed the HC and AS rations. Prepartum serum concentrations of Ca, P, and Mg as well as postpartum serum concentrations of P and Mg did not differ, while postpartum Ca was lower in the HC group, especially 24 and 48 h after parturition. The greatest energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield was observed in cows fed the LC ration prepartum. Interestingly, milk protein production was lower in SC cows compared to LC, HC and AS. This study indicates that a ration containing a restricted Ca content fed prepartum is as suitable as a low DCAD diet to improve Ca balance without compromising DMI and performance.
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