Large-Scale Distribution of Total Mass versus Luminous Matter from Baryon Acoustic Oscillations: First Search in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey Data Release 10.

Baryon acoustic oscillations in the early Universe are predicted to leave an as yet undetected signature on the relative clustering of total mass versus luminous matter. A detection of this effect would provide an important confirmation of the standard cosmological paradigm and constrain alternatives to dark matter as well as nonstandard fluctuations such as compensated isocurvature perturbations (CIPs). We conduct the first observational search for this effect, by comparing the number-weighted and luminosity-weighted correlation functions, using the SDSS-III BOSS Data Release 10 CMASS sample. When including CIPs in our model, we formally obtain evidence at 3.2σ of the relative clustering signature and a limit that matches the existing upper limits on the amplitude of CIPs. However, various tests suggest that these results are not yet robust, perhaps due to systematic biases in the data. The method developed in this Letter used with more accurate future data such as that from DESI, is likely to confirm or disprove our preliminary evidence.

The use of "2-octyl cyanoacrylate" as skin adhesive in pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of "2-octyl-cyanoacrylate" as skin adhesive in congenital heart surgery. METHODS: From April 2010 to December 2011, we collected data from 300 patients who underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease. We divided our population into 3 groups: group-1 (N.=100):"2-octyl-cyanoacrylate" has been used to replace the intra-dermal suture line; group-2 (N.=100):"2-octyl-cyanoacrylate" has been utilized as a barrier ("add-on measure") in addition to the intra-dermal suture line, group-3 (N.=100) with a standard intra-dermal suture line. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 1.36 years. One-hundred and thirty-nine patients were younger than 12 months and 56 older than 16 years. There were 11 wound dehiscence (3.6%) (2 in group-1 and 9 in group-3, P=0.001) and 1 superficial wound infection (group-1). Six patients (2%) required surgical wound revision (2 in group-1 and 4 in group-3, P=NS). Wound complication was significantly associated to delayed sternal closure (3/12 patients, 25% versus 13/288 patients, 4.5%) (P=0.04). Median cost (intra-/postoperative) for wound treatment was lower in group-1 and 2 (19±5.5 and 23.9±7.4 € respectively) when compared to Group-3 (26.7±3.2) (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The use of "2-octyl-cyanoacrylate" proved to be safe and effective; the "add-on measure" strategy provided the best cost-effective solution.