scholarly journals The Effelsberg Search for Pulsars in the Galactic Centre

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 37-38
Author(s):  
M. Kramer ◽  
B. Klein ◽  
D. Lorimer ◽  
P. Müller ◽  
A. Jessner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
The Status

AbstractWe report the status of a search for pulsars in the Galactic Centre, using a completely revised and improved high-sensitivity double-horn system at 4.85-GHz. We also present calculations about the success rate of periodicity searches for such a survey, showing that in contrast to conclusions in recent literature pulsars can be indeed detected at the chosen search frequency.

scholarly journals Associations between Pre-Bariatric High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Post-Surgery Outcomes

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 721
Author(s):  
Tannaz Jamialahmadi ◽  
Mohsen Nematy ◽  
Simona Bo ◽  
Valentina Ponzo ◽  
Ali Jangjoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Morbid Obesity ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Liver Stiffness ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Post Surgery ◽  
Hs Crp

Background: Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Bariatric surgery has been reported to be effective in improving both inflammatory and liver status. Our aims were to elucidate the relationships between pre-surgery high sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) values and post-surgery weight loss and liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with severe obesity undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Methods: We conducted an observational prospective study on 90 individuals with morbid obesity, who underwent gastric bypass. Anthropometric indices, laboratory assessment (lipid panel, glycemic status, liver enzymes, and hs-CRP), liver stiffness and steatosis were evaluated at baseline and 6-months after surgery. Results: There was a significant post-surgery reduction in all the anthropometric variables, with an average weight loss of 33.93 ± 11.79 kg; the mean percentage of total weight loss (TWL) was 27.96 ± 6.43%. Liver elasticity was significantly reduced (from 6.1 ± 1.25 to 5.42 ± 1.52 kPa; p = 0.002), as well as liver aminotransferases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) and the grade of steatosis. Serum hs-CRP levels significantly reduced (from 9.26 ± 8.45 to 3.29 ± 4.41 mg/L; p < 0.001). The correlations between hs-CRP levels and liver fibrosis (elastography), steatosis (ultrasonography), fibrosis-4 index, NFS, and surgery success rate were not significant. Regression analyses showed that serum hs-CRP levels were not predictive of liver status and success rate after surgery in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Conclusions: In patients with morbid obesity, bariatric surgery caused a significant decrease in hs-CRP levels, liver stiffness and steatosis. Baseline hs-CRP values did not predict the weight-loss success rate and post-surgery liver status.

The PLATO mission: Overview and status

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heike Rauer ◽  
Isabella Pagano ◽  
Miguel Mas-Hesse ◽  
Conny Aerts ◽  
Magali Deleuil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Ground Segment ◽  
Wide Field Of View ◽  
The Status ◽  
Photometric Monitoring ◽  
Host Stars ◽  
Flight Model ◽  
Made In

&lt;p&gt;PLATO is an ESA mission dedicated to the study of exoplanets and stars, with a planned launch date in 2026. By performing photometric monitoring of about 250 000 bright stars (m&lt;sub&gt;V&lt;/sub&gt; &lt; 13), PLATO will be able to discover and characterise hundreds of exoplanets, including small planets orbiting up to the habitable zone of solar-like stars. PLATO&amp;#8217;s precision will also allow for a precise characterisation of the host stars through asteroseismology. These objectives require both a wide field of view and high sensitivity, which are achieved with a payload comprising 24 cameras with partially overlapping fields of view. They are complemented by 2 more cameras optimised for brighter stars that will also be used as fine guidance sensor. The PLATO development phase started after the mission adoption in July 2017. The Mission Preliminary Design Review (PDR) was declared successful in October 2020. The implementation and delivery to ESA of the flight model CCDs for all cameras (4 CCDs per camera) has been completed. Currently the Structural Thermal Model (STM) of the payload optical bench is being manufactured, while the STM of a single camera has already been successfully tested. In parallel, a first engineering model of a complete, fully functional camera is being integrated, to verify its performance under operational conditions, and the qualification models of the different payload units are being built.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;We will present the status of the PLATO payload implementation in the context of the satellite development. In particular, we will describe the payload manufacturing, integration, and tests that will be reviewed at the Critical Milestone in the second half of 2021. We will also summarise the progress made in the science preparation activities, as well as on the ground segment.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Progress in a Vacuum Weight Search Experiment

Physics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Saverio Avino ◽  
Enrico Calloni ◽  
Sergio Caprara ◽  
Martina De Laurentis ◽  
Rosario De Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vacuum Energy ◽  
Transition Energy ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Layered Superconductor ◽  
Final Measurement ◽  
The Status ◽  
Search Experiment ◽  
Superconducting Sample ◽  
And Control ◽  
Expected Signal

We present the status of the art of the Archimedes experiment, devoted to measuring the debated interaction of quantum vacuum fluctuations and gravity. The method is essentially the weighing of the transition energy of a layered superconductor where the contribution of vacuum energy to the transition energy is expected to be relevant. The transition is obtained by modulating the temperature of the superconducting sample at a frequency of about 10 mHz and the expected change of weight is measured with a suitably designed high sensitivity cryogenic beam balance. In this paper, we present an overview of the experiment, discussing the expected signal to be measured, and presenting in particular the result of a prototype balance operated in our present laboratory. In the frequency range of the measurement, the sensitivity is affected mainly by seismic, thermal, sensor, and control noise. We discuss these points showing in particular the design of the cryogenic apparatus, the final balance, and the quiet seismic site that will host the final measurement.

Assessing and Extending Track Quality Index for Novel Measurement Techniques in Railway Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (8) ◽  
pp. 24-36
Author(s):  
Tzu-Hao Yan ◽  
Francesco Corman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Index ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Railway Systems ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sensitivity Data ◽  
Maintenance Process ◽  
Track Status ◽  
Track Quality

A systematic maintenance process is essential to keeping railway systems safe and reliable. However, performing such maintenance is costly and often results in system disruption. There is a tradeoff between system safety and budgetary constraints; understanding the condition of the track infrastructure is essential to find the balance between needs and costs for decisions about when to perform maintenance. In this study, the track quality index (TQI), which is commonly used to evaluate the status of tracks and to decide maintenance interventions, is reviewed, including 12 TQIs for superstructure and six for substructure. A literature review indicates that TQIs for sleepers and subgrade have not yet been developed. The differences between TQIs are compared using a set of hypothetical raw data. Their capabilities for identifying track irregularities are also investigated based on the EN 13848 regulations. To classify TQI characteristics in a systematic way, this study proposes four concepts: accuracy, sensitivity, data required, and specificity. Accuracy indicates a TQI’s capability of detecting defects; sensitivity indicates how TQIs change according to variations in the defects; specificity relates to the amount of parameters considered, and the ability to pinpoint root causes or global consequences of defects. The results suggest a tradeoff between the four concepts, where high sensitivity can increase the ability to detect the smallest defects but may be affected by bias; more parameters considered may indicate low accuracy when detecting a single type of defect. Therefore, this study suggests railway regulators use multiple TQIs with complementary characteristics for classifying track status.

scholarly journals Pulsar observations at millimetre wavelengths

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S337) ◽  
pp. 92-95
Author(s):  
Pablo Torne
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
New Era ◽  
Radio Frequencies ◽  
Radio Band ◽  
First Time ◽  
Strong Scattering

AbstractDetecting and studying pulsars above a few GHz in the radio band is challenging due to the typical faintness of pulsar radio emission, their steep spectra, and the lack of observatories with sufficient sensitivity operating at high frequency ranges. Despite the difficulty, the observations of pulsars at high radio frequencies are valuable because they can help us to understand the radio emission process, complete a census of the Galactic pulsar population, and possibly discover the elusive population in the Galactic Centre, where low-frequency observations have problems due to the strong scattering. During the decades of the 1990s and 2000s, the availability of sensitive instrumentation allowed for the detection of a small sample of pulsars above 10 GHz, and for the first time in the millimetre band. Recently, new attempts between 3 and 1 mm (≈86 − 300 GHz) have resulted in the detections of a pulsar and a magnetar up to the highest radio frequencies to date, reaching 291 GHz (1.03 mm). The efforts continue, and the advent of new or upgraded millimetre facilities like the IRAM 30-m, NOEMA, the LMT, and ALMA, warrants a new era of high-sensitivity millimetre pulsar astronomy in the upcoming years.

scholarly journals Low levels of methanol deuteration in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I

2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva G. Bøgelund ◽  
Brett A. McGuire ◽  
Niels F. W. Ligterink ◽  
Vianney Taquet ◽  
Crystal L. Brogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
Mass Star ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Grain Surface ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Context. The abundance of deuterated molecules in a star-forming region is sensitive to the environment in which they are formed. Deuteration fractions, in other words the ratio of a species containing D to its hydrogenated counterpart, therefore provide a powerful tool for studying the physical and chemical evolution of a star-forming system. While local low-mass star-forming regions show very high deuteration ratios, much lower fractions are observed towards Orion and the Galactic centre. Astration of deuterium has been suggested as a possible cause for low deuteration in the Galactic centre. Aims. We derive methanol deuteration fractions at a number of locations towards the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I, located at a mean distance of 1.3 kpc, and discuss how these can shed light on the conditions prevailing during its formation. Methods. We use high sensitivity, high spatial and spectral resolution observations obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array to study transitions of the less abundant, optically thin, methanol-isotopologues: 13CH3OH, CH318OH, CH2DOH and CH3OD, detected towards NGC 6334I. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and excitation temperatures of ~120–330 K, we derive column densities for each of the species and use these to infer CH2DOH/CH3OH and CH3OD/CH3OH fractions. Results. We derive column densities in a range of (0.8–8.3) × 1017 cm−2 for 13CH3OH, (0.13–3.4) × 1017 cm−2 for CH318OH, (0.03–1.63) × 1017 cm−2 for CH2DOH and (0.15–5.5) × 1017 cm−2 for CH3OD in a ~1″ beam. Interestingly, the column densities of CH3OD are consistently higher than those of CH2DOH throughout the region by factors of 2–15. We calculate the CH2DOH to CH3OH and CH3OD to CH3OH ratios for each of the sampled locations in NGC 6334I. These values range from 0.03% to 0.34% for CH2DOH and from 0.27% to 1.07% for CH3OD if we use the 13C isotope of methanol as a standard; using the 18 O-methanol as a standard, decreases the ratios by factors of between two and three. Conclusions. All regions studied in this work show CH2DOH/CH3OH as well as CH2DOH/CH3OD values that are considerably lower than those derived towards low-mass star-forming regions and slightly lower than those derived for the high-mass star-forming regions in Orion and the Galactic centre. The low ratios indicate a grain surface temperature during formation ~30 K, for which the efficiency of the formation of deuterated species is significantly reduced. Therefore, astration of deuterium in the Galactic centre cannot be the explanation for its low deuteration ratio but rather the high temperatures characterising the region.

scholarly journals Metallic Nanoparticle-Based Optical Cell Chip for Nondestructive Monitoring of Intra/Extracellular Signals

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Sang-Nam Lee ◽  
Jin-Ha Choi ◽  
Hyeon-Yeol Cho ◽  
Jeong-Woo Choi
Keyword(s):  
Metallic Nanoparticles ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Localized Surface Plasmon ◽  
Nondestructive Monitoring ◽  
Metallic Nanoparticle ◽  
Optical Cell ◽  
Cell Chip ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sensitivity And Selectivity

The biosensing platform is noteworthy for high sensitivity and precise detection of target analytes, which are related to the status of cells or specific diseases. The modification of the transducers with metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) has attracted attention owing to excellent features such as improved sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the incorporation of MNPs into biosensing systems may increase the speed and the capability of the biosensors. In this review, we introduce the current progress of the developed cell-based biosensors, cell chip, based on the unique physiochemical features of MNPs. Mainly, we focus on optical intra/extracellular biosensing methods, including fluorescence, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based on the coupling of MNPs. We believe that the topics discussed here are useful and able to provide a guideline in the development of new MNP-based cell chip platforms for pharmaceutical applications such as drug screening and toxicological tests in the near future.

scholarly journals A reassessment of the type locality of the giant rat Solomys salamonis (Rodentia : Muridae) from the Solomon Islands

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyrone H. Lavery
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Preliminary Survey ◽  
Australian Museum ◽  
The Status

The Solomon Islands support a diverse and highly endemic rodent fauna. Most species are poorly known and rarely encountered. Solomys salamonis is one such endemic species known only from the holotype collected in 1881. The type locality for the species has been repeatedly confused in the literature, and this uncertainty has hampered attempts to evaluate the status of the species. I reassessed the type locality based on review of the published literature and records and archives of the Australian Museum, Sydney. My review indicates that the type locality is Ugi Island, not Florida Island as widely reported in the recent literature. A subsequent, preliminary survey on Ugi Island failed to confirm the presence of the species; however, the occurrence of some original forest on Ugi Island encourages further detailed surveys to determine whether S. salamonis is still extant.

scholarly journals Type 1 tympanoplasty: does the status of contralateral ear affect the outcome?

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Arindam Das ◽  
Sandipta Mitra ◽  
Debasish Ghosh ◽  
Arunabha Sengupta
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Otitis Media ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Chronic Otitis Media ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Type 1 Tympanoplasty ◽  
The Status ◽  
Contralateral Ear

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of contralateral ear status on the success rate (anatomical closure) of type 1 tympanoplasty.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study is a prospective observational study comprising of 60 patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media, who underwent type 1 tympanoplasty during 2016-2018 in a tertiary care hospital.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In our study, contralateral ear was normal in 40 (66.7%) cases &amp; diseased in 20 (33.3%) cases. Success rate of type 1 tympanoplasty in patients with normal contralateral ear was 90% (n=36) but success rate was only 60% (n=12) in diseased contralateral ear. This was statistically significant (p=0.006).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our study revealed that the status of the opposite ear is an individual prognostic factor for type 1 tympanoplasty. In other words, graft-healing rates are poorer in individuals whose opposite ears are atelectatic or perforated because of chronic otitis media.</p>

scholarly journals Correlation of Status of Mastoid with Outcomes of Myringoplasty with Cortical Mastoidectomy in Mucosal Otitis Media with High Risk Perforation

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
Asmita Shrestha ◽  
Hari Bhattarai ◽  
Pabina Rayamajhi ◽  
Rabindra B Pradhananga
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Otitis Media ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
P Value ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Cortical Mastoidectomy ◽  
The Status ◽  
Air Cells ◽  
Mastoid Air Cells

Introduction Chronic mucosal otitis media is one of the common disease prevalent in our society. This study was done to correlate the status of mastoid with outcomes of myringoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy in mucosal otitis media with high risk perforation. MethodsThis prospective, observational study was done at Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Thirty-four patients of ag|e 15 and above with chronic mucosal otitis media having high-risk perforation undergoing cortical mastoidectomy with myringoplasty were included. The status of middle ear, aditus, and mastoid air cells were assessed. Post-operatively, patients were assessed for graft uptake and hearing after three months. The post-operative graft uptake and hearing results were correlated with the peroperative status. Four patients who had preoperative sensorineural hearing loss were studied in terms of graft uptake only. ResultsThe graft success rate in patients with normal mastoid air cells was 90% whereas in diseased cases was 71.4% which was statistically not significant with p value 0.20. The success rate in terms of hearing was 68.8% in normal mastoid whereas it was 64.3% in diseased mastoid which was statistically not significant with p-value of 1. ConclusionIn correlation with the status of mastoid air cells with graft uptake and hearing result, the observed differences were not statistically significant. However, averages of post-operative air conduction threshold and air-bone gap of all cases were better as compared to preoperative levels.

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