Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: Cosmological Constraints from Cluster Abundances, Weak Lensing, and Galaxy Correlations.

We present the first joint analysis of cluster abundances and auto or cross-correlations of three cosmic tracer fields: galaxy density, weak gravitational lensing shear, and cluster density split by optical richness. From a joint analysis (4×2pt+N) of cluster abundances, three cluster cross-correlations, and the auto correlations of the galaxy density measured from the first year data of the Dark Energy Survey, we obtain Ω_{m}=0.305_{-0.

Cosmological Constraints from Multiple Probes in the Dark Energy Survey.

The combination of multiple observational probes has long been advocated as a powerful technique to constrain cosmological parameters, in particular dark energy. The Dark Energy Survey has measured 207 spectroscopically confirmed type Ia supernova light curves, the baryon acoustic oscillation feature, weak gravitational lensing, and galaxy clustering. Here we present combined results from these probes, deriving constraints on the equation of state, w, of dark energy and its energy density in the Universe.

Expression of human activin C protein in insect larvae infected with a recombinant baculovirus.

In order to generate dimeric recombinant transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) proteins, expensive eucaryotic cell systems, such as CHO cells, are usually used. An alternative represents the expression of such proteins in insects using a baculovirus expression system. In this study, recombinant human activin C protein was expressed in Noctuidae larvae.

The clinical utility of ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring in psychiatric inpatients.

Alterations in heart rate and blood pressure (BP) may occur in patients receiving psychiatric medication. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring was compared with nurses' conventional vital signs (CVS) for systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) and heart rate (HR) measurements in psychiatric inpatients receiving multidrug treatments. Twelve consecutive subjects were enrolled.

Recombinant human growth/differentiation factor 5 stimulates mesenchyme aggregation and chondrogenesis responsible for the skeletal development of limbs.

We have expressed and biologically characterized recombinant human growth/differentiation factor 5 (huGDF5). This protein is composed of a mature homodimer consisting of 15 kD subunits. Using recombinant expressed protein, we have demonstrated that huGDF5 in vitro stimulated mesenchyme aggregation and chondrogenesis in rat limb bud cells.

The evolution of the universe.

Some 15 billion years ago the universe emerged from a hot, dense sea of matter and energy. As the cosmos expanded and cooled, it spawned galaxies, stars, planets and life.

[Comparison of complications after intra- and extracapsular cataract extraction with lens implantation. Results of a prospective, randomized, clinical study].

Background: The postoperative complications of ICCE with ACL implantation are compared with those of ECCE and PCL. Our clinical experience with ICCE and ACL implantation can not confirm the widespread rejection of this method.

Patients And Method: A prospective, randomized, clinical study with participation of medical statisticians was performed.

Theory and design of disposable clinical blood viscometer.

A disposable clinical whole blood viscometer which can produce viscosity measures over a wide range of shear rates in a single rapid determination has been developed and is currently under test. The design is based upon the time varying flow of blood through a capillary. The flow is driven by the pressure in a fixed volume air chamber and transmitted to the sample through a compliant membrane.

Experimental hypervolemic hemodilution: physiological correlations of cortical blood flow, cardiac output, and intracranial pressure with fresh blood viscosity and plasma volume.

Rheological, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular alterations induced by serial plasma volume (PV) expansion were evaluated in splenectomized dogs. Seven dogs received two infusions of autologous plasma within 120 minutes; each infusion equaled 20% of the respective dog's total blood volume (TBV). The PV increased 31% and then another 26% after the two respective infusions, and the hematocrit (Hct) was obligatorily decreased by 22% during the experiment.

Behavioral versus pharmacological treatments for essential hypertension--a needed comparison.

Comparison of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension patients treated for 6 weeks by antihypertensive medication versus metronome-conditioned relaxation versus biofeedback versus a mild exercise control procedure showed that those on medication achieved the greatest decrease in blood pressure. The relaxation and biofeedback groups decreased more than the mild exercise group, as predicted, but not significantly more. The differences in benefits of the groups were not a function of group differences in initial blood pressure levels nor in compliance.

The most distant known galaxies.

Ever since the proposal of the idea of an expanding universe more than 50 years ago, each generation of investigators has found that some current theory could be (marginally) tested by the properties of the most distant known galaxies. There has consequently been a continuing effort to identify very remote objects, especially to confront theories of the evolution of galaxies (since galaxies are seen as they were at prior epochs) and to confront cosmological theories (which make predictions about the overall dynamics of the expansion of the universe). These theories have yet to be definitively tested, but a new generation of optical telescopes and detectors provides hope for significant progress during this decade.

Are the "addiction-related" problems of substance abusers really related?

The "addiction-related" medical, social, and psychological problems of substance abusers are often considered by-products of prolonged alcohol or drug abuse which will be generally improved following achievement of abstinence. As a test of this view, measures of problem severity in six areas commonly related to addiction were intercorrelated in 460 alcoholic and 282 drug addicted male veterans. Both before and after treatment, the low intercorrelations in each sample indicated little relation between the severity of alcohol or drug use and the severity of the other problem areas.

Matching substance abuse patients to appropriate treatments: a conceptual and methodological approach.

The paper describes a non-intrusive, computer assisted, program evaluation design for matching sub-types of substance abuse patients to appropriate treatment programs in any multi-modal treatment network. The design incorporates the methodological advantages of an experimental paradigm without the administrative and clinical problems of random patient assignment, and untreated control groups. The specific objectives of this design are: (1) The development of a generalizable evaluation process to efficiently match patients with programs.

Estimating one's own systolic blood pressure: effects of feedback training.

This study was aimed at discovering the ability of subjects to estimate absolute levels of systolic blood pressure after feedback of daily blood pressure information. Twenty-one subjects were studied who had shown a variation of at least +/- 20 mm Hg in systolic pressure during 8 days of base-line measurements. Subjects' estimates were found to be moderately accurate even before any specific blood pressure information feedback was given (mean error was +/- 12.

Neonatal narcotic abstinence: Effects of pharmacotherapeutic agents and maternal drug usage on nutritive sucking behavior.

An uncoordinated and ineffectual sucking reflex is a major manifestation of neonatal narcotic abstinence and may have important consequences for the infant's subsequent well being. Measures of nutritive sucking were used to monitor the severity of neonatal narcotic abstinence in a series of infants born to narcotic-dependent mothers who were either attending the methadone clinic or else were "street addicts." In all these infants, sucking measures were significantly reduced relative to normal control subjects.

A case of blood-illness-injury phobia treated behaviorally.

A patient with a 24-year history of blood-illness-injury phobia associated with bradycardia and syncope was treated behaviorally. He was taught to prevent bradycardia and resulting syncope occurring in the presence of phobic stimuli by provoking anger in himself using appropriate imagery. Within a few weeks, the patient was able to use the procedure successfully to prevent syncope in everyday situations.

Narcotic addiction in the newborn: differences in behavior generated by methadone and heroin.

The nutritive sucking performance of congenitally addicted infants undergoing narcotic withdrawal was used to provide objective measures of adaptive behavior in a series of 50 infants born to mothers addicted either to heroin or methadone. Sucking rates as well as average pressures developed during sucking were significantly reduced for the addicted infants relative to a control group born to normal mothers and a second control group born to toxemic mothers. The subgroup of infants born to methadone-addicted mothers was significantly more depressed with regard to sucking behavior than the infants of heroin-addicted mothers.