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ABSTRACT We present the first application to density field reconstruction to a galaxy survey to undo the smoothing of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature due to non-linear gravitational evolution and thereby improve the precision of the distance measurements possible. We apply the reconstruction technique to the clustering of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 (DR7) luminous red galaxy (LRG) sample, sharpening the BAO feature and achieving a 1.9 per cent measurement of the distance to z = 0.35. We update the reconstruction algorithm of Eisenstein et al. to account for the effects of survey geometry as well as redshift-space distortions and validate it on 160 LasDamas simulations. We demonstrate that reconstruction sharpens the BAO feature in the angle averaged galaxy correlation function, reducing the non-linear smoothing scale Σnl from 8.1 to 4.4 Mpc h−1. Reconstruction also significantly reduces the effects of redshift-space distortions at the BAO scale, isotropizing the correlation function. This sharpened BAO feature yields an unbiased distance estimate (<0.2 per cent) and reduces the scatter from 3.3 to 2.1 per cent. We demonstrate the robustness of these results to the various reconstruction parameters, including the smoothing scale, the galaxy bias and the linear growth rate. Applying this reconstruction algorithm to the SDSS LRG DR7 sample improves the significance of the BAO feature in these data from 3.3σ for the unreconstructed correlation function to 4.2σ after reconstruction. We estimate a relative distance scale D V/ r s to z = 0.35 of 8.88 ± 0.17, where r s is the sound horizon and [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated black holes (BHs) and neutron stars (NSs) are largely undetectable across the electromagnetic spectrum. For this reason, our only real prospect of observing these isolated compact remnants is via microlensing; a feat recently performed for the first time. However, characterization of the microlensing events caused by BHs and NSs is still in its infancy. In this work, we perform N -body simulations to explore the frequency and physical characteristics of microlensing events across the entire sky. Our simulations find that every year we can expect |$88_{-6}^{+6}$| BH, |$6.8_{-1.6}^{+1.7}$| NS, and |$20^{+30}_{-20}$| stellar microlensing events which cause an astrometric shift larger than 2 mas. Similarly, we can expect |$21_{-3}^{+3}$| BH, |$18_{-3}^{+3}$| NS, and |$7500_{-500}^{+500}$| stellar microlensing events which cause a bump magnitude larger than 1 mag. Leveraging a more comprehensive dynamical model than prior work, we predict the fraction of microlensing events caused by BHs as a function of Einstein time to be smaller than previously thought. Comparison of our microlensing simulations to events in Gaia finds good agreement. Finally, we predict that in the combination of Gaia and Gaia NIR data there will be |$14700_{-900}^{+600}$| BH and |$1600_{-200}^{+300}$| NS events creating a centroid shift larger than 1 mas and |$330_{-120}^{+100}$| BH and |$310_{-100}^{+110}$| NS events causing bump magnitudes >1. Of these, <10 BH and |$5_{-5}^{+10}$| NS events should be detectable using current analysis techniques. These results inform future astrometric mission design, such as Gaia NIR, as they indicate that, compared to stellar events, there are fewer observable BH events than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated patterns of variation in alkamides and cichoric acid accumulation in the roots and aboveground parts of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench. These phytochemicals were extracted from fresh plant parts with 60% ethanol and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Concentrations of alkamides and cichoric acid were measured on a dry-weight basis (mg·g-1). For total alkamides, concentrations among individual plants varied from 5.02 to 27.67 (mean = 14.4%) in roots, from 0.62 to 3.42 (mean = 1.54) in nearly matured seed heads (NMSH), and 0.22 to 5.25 (mean = 0.77) in young tops (about ½ flower heads, ¼ leaves, and ¼ stems). For cichoric acid, concentrations among individual plants varied from 2.65 to 37.52 (mean = 8.95), from 2.03 to 31.58 (mean = 10.9), and from 4.79 to 38.55 (mean = 18.88) in the roots, the NMSH, and the tops, respectively. Dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10E-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide and dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide (alkamides 8/9) accounted for only 9.5% of the total alkamides in roots, but comprised 87.9% in the NMSH, and 76.6% in the young tops. Correlations of concentrations of alkamides or cichoric acid between those of roots and those of the NMSH were not statistically significant, and either within the roots, the NMSH, and the young tops. However, a significant negative correlation was observed between the concentration of cichoric acid in the roots and in young tops, and a significant positive correlation was observed between total alkamide concentration in the roots and cichoric acid concentration in the young tops. These results may be useful in the genetic improvement of E. purpurea for medicinal use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination patterns were studied in Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench grouped by seed source, one group of seven lots from commercially cultivated populations and a second group of nine lots regenerated from ex situ conserved wild populations. Germination tests were conducted in a growth chamber in light (40 µmol⋅m-2⋅s-1) or darkness at 25 °C for 20 days after soaking the seeds in water for 10 minutes. Except for two seed lots from wild populations, better germination was observed for commercially cultivated populations in light (90% mean among seed lots, ranging from 82% to 95%) and in darkness (88% mean among seed lots, ranging from 82% to 97%) than for wild populations in light (56% mean among seed lots, ranging from 9% to 92%) or in darkness (37% mean among seed lots, ranging from 4% to 78%). No germination difference was measured between treatments in light and darkness in the commercially cultivated populations, but significant differences were noted for treatments among wild populations. These results suggest that repeated cycles of sowing seeds during cultivation without treatments for dormancy release resulted in reduced seed dormancy in E. purpurea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds from five lots each of Echinacea angustifolia DC and E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. were germinated in a growth chamber in light (40 µmol⋅m-2⋅s-1) or darkness at 25 °C for 16 to 20 days after soaking in 1 mM ethephon or water for 10 minutes or moist stratification at 4 - 6 ° C for 2 weeks. Either light or ethephon promoted seed germination of E. angustifolia and E. pallida compared with darkness in nine often lots. Ethephon in the dark had similar or greater germination percentages than water with light. Ethephon with light improved germination in three of ten lots compared with ethephon in the dark. The effect of cold, moist stratification compared with darkness varied by seed lot. Five lots of E. purpurea (L.) Moench were tested, however, no treatment differences were measured. The finding that ethethon promoted E. angustifolia and E. pallida seed germination in darkness could be useful in the cultivation of these two species. Chemical name used: 2-chloroethyiphosphonic acid (ethephon). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational design is a critical tool to realize the full potential of Soft Robotics, maximizing their inherent benefits of high performance, flexibility, robustness, and safe interaction. Practically, computational design entails a rapid iterative search process over a parameterized design space, with assessment using (frequently) computational modeling and (more rarely) physical experimentation. Bayesian approaches work well for these expensive-to-analyze systems and can lead to efficient exploration of design space than comparative algorithms. However, such computational design typically entails weaknesses related to a lack of fidelity in assessment, a lack of sufficient iterations, and/or optimizing to a singular objective function. Our work directly addresses these shortcomings. First, we harness a sophisticated nonlinear Finite Element Modeling suite that explicitly considers geometry, material, and contact nonlinearity to perform rapid accurate characterization. We validate this through extensive physical testing using an automated test rig and printed robotic fingers, providing far more experimental data than that reported in the literature. Second, we explore a significantly larger design space than comparative approaches, with more free variables and more opportunity to discover novel, high performance designs. Finally, we use a multiobjective Bayesian optimizer that allows for the identification of promising trade-offs between two critical objectives, compliance and contact force. We test our framework on optimizing Fin Ray grippers, which are ubiquitous throughout research and industry due to their passive compliance and durability. Results demonstrate the benefits of our approach, allowing for the optimization and identification of promising gripper designs within an extensive design space, which are then 3D printed and usable in reality.