1,418 research outputs found
Filter design for the detection of compact sources based on the Neyman-Pearson detector
This paper considers the problem of compact source detection on a Gaussian
background in 1D. Two aspects of this problem are considered: the design of the
detector and the filtering of the data. Our detection scheme is based on local
maxima and it takes into account not only the amplitude but also the curvature
of the maxima. A Neyman-Pearson test is used to define the region of
acceptance, that is given by a sufficient linear detector that is independent
on the amplitude distribution of the sources. We study how detection can be
enhanced by means of linear filters with a scaling parameter and compare some
of them (the Mexican Hat wavelet, the matched and the scale-adaptive filters).
We introduce a new filter, that depends on two free parameters (biparametric
scale-adaptive filter). The value of these two parameters can be determined,
given the a priori pdf of the amplitudes of the sources, such that the filter
optimizes the performance of the detector in the sense that it gives the
maximum number of real detections once fixed the number density of spurious
sources. The combination of a detection scheme that includes information on the
curvature and a flexible filter that incorporates two free parameters (one of
them a scaling) improves significantly the number of detections in some
interesting cases. In particular, for the case of weak sources embedded in
white noise the improvement with respect to the standard matched filter is of
the order of 40%. Finally, an estimation of the amplitude of the source is
introduced and it is proven that such an estimator is unbiased and it has
maximum efficiency. We perform numerical simulations to test these theoretical
ideas and conclude that the results of the simulations agree with the
analytical ones.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, version accepted for publication in MNRAS.
Corrected typos in Tab.
Anatomical factors associated with gender recognizability: A study on intraoral standardized photographs
AIM: The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of identifying the sex of 1 subject through visual assessment of a frontal photograph of dentition, and to investigate if some morphological characteristics are related to sex determination. METHODS: 5 expert dentists, 5 non-expert dentists and 5 laypeople were made to watch 100 intraoral photographs for 5 seconds each and to establish their sex. The responses of the participants and the baseline characteristics of photographed dentitions were analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of right answers was 56.0% \ub1 8.2% in the group of expert dentists, 65.0% \ub1 6.0% in the group of non-expert dentists and 58.6% \ub1 4.5% in the group of non-expert people. The round shape of maxillary central incisors was related to the female gender (P = .006). The male condition was correlated with poor oral hygiene for 4 observers. Female sex perception was correlated with round morphology of upper central incisors for 3 observers. CONCLUSION: No difference in the ability to determine the sex was registered among groups, suggesting that sex perception is not strongly influenced by the characteristics of dentition
Simulations of Galactic Cosmic Ray Impacts on the Herschel/PACS bolometer Arrays with Geant4 Code
The effects of the in-flight behaviour of the bolometer arrays of the
Herschel/PACS instrument under impacts of Galactic cosmic rays are explored.
This instrument is part of the ESA-Herschel payload, which will be launched at
the end of 2008 and will operate at the Lagrangian L2 point of the Sun-Earth
system. We find that the components external to the detectors (the spacecraft,
the cryostat, the PACS box, collectively referred to as the `shield') are the
major source of secondary events affecting the detector behaviour. The impacts
deposit energy on the bolometer chips and influence the behaviour of nearby
pixels. 25% of hits affect the adjacent pixels. The energy deposited raises the
bolometer temperature by a factor ranging from 1 to 6 percent of the nominal
value. We discuss the effects on the observations and compare simulations with
laboratory tests.Comment: Experimental Astronomy, 2008, in pres
Bayesian methodology for probabilistic description of mechanical parameters of masonry walls
In consideration of the high vulnerability of the built environment, the assessment of seismic behavior of existing masonry buildings is a key topic in view of their retrofitting and reuse. Because masonry's behavior depends on complex nonhomogeneous, anisotropic, asymmetric, and nonlinear properties, the definition of suitable mechanical models is still a critical issue, especially for stone masonry. Structural analyses of existing masonry buildings in seismic-prone areas are thus significantly influenced by the adopted mechanical models and assumptions about their relevant masonry properties, which are characterized by large uncertainty. In this study, a procedure for the definition of masonry classes and probability density functions of relevant mechanical parameters, such as elastic modulus and shear modulus, is proposed. The general procedure is illustrated referring to a significant number of in situ double-flat-jack test results on stone masonry obtained by the authors during an ad hoc experimental campaign. Finally, combining information on masonry quality obtained by visual inspection with results of in situ tests, a Bayesian methodology is proposed for the updating of masonry mechanical parameters, thereby providing the basis for a more refined probabilistic assessment of the seismic risk index. DOI: 10.1061/AJRUA6.0001110. This work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Case for Optically-Thick High Velocity Broad Line Region Gas in Active Galactic Nuclei
A combined analysis of the profiles of the main broad quasar emission lines
in both Hubble Space Telescope and optical spectra shows that while the
profiles of the strong UV lines are quite similar, there is frequently a strong
increase in the Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio in the high-velocity gas. We show that
the suggestion that the high velocity gas is optically-thin presents many
problems. We show that the relative strengths of the high velocity wings arise
naturally in an optically-thick BLR component. An optically-thick model
successfully explains the equivalent widths of the lines, the Ly-alpha/H-alpha
ratios and flatter Balmer decrements in the line wings, the strengths of CIII]
and the lambda 1400 blend, and the strong variability of high-velocity,
high-ionization lines (especially HeII and HeI).Comment: 34 pages in AASTeX, including 10 pages of figures. Submitted to
Astrophysical Journa
Handover checklist: testing a standardization process in an Italian hospital
Objectives: This study aimed to standardize and rationalize the handover, a critical and essential moment in common health care practices, through the realization of an efficient and standardized checklist, which could be used daily to ensure complete, thorough and effective handover. The principal purpose of the implementation of the handover is to reduce errors due to superficial and insufficient communication.
Methods: The "operative group" defined the phases to the realization of the delineated aims: at first, the direct observation and the consequent realization of a handover checklist model and then, the experimental phases (trials). The handover checklist model was used for a month and it was daily and duly completed by the doctors who took part in the trial. To prove the success of the study, three questionnaires were distributed on different occasions.
Results: Analyzing the answers to the questionnaires, the importance of the handover has come to light and that for the most part, the doctors consider it an essential and irreplaceable moment in daily health care work. Moreover, it became obvious that the use of the handover checklist guaranteed a considerable improvement in the traditional handover in terms of security, completeness, care continuity and clarity. The handover checklist was completely appreciated by the majority of the participant doctors who agree with the definitive introduction of it in their unit.
Conclusions: Our study indicated the consistency of the handover checklist as an instrument to implement the handover and, indirectly, to improve the quality of the care
Influence of Diabetes on Implant Failure and Peri-Implant Diseases: A Retrospective Study
Diabetes is an important modifying factor of periodontitis, but its association with peri-implant diseases has not been fully explored and the existing literature reports controversial results. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes on peri-implantitis and implant failure. Smoking status, history of periodontal disease, presence of diabetes, diabetes type, therapy and glycaemia levels were collected in a total of 204 subjects treated with 929 implants, with a mean follow-up time of 5.7 \ub1 3.82 years after loading. Odds ratio (OR) for diabetes as a direct cause of peri-implantitis and implant failure were calculated, adjusted for smoking status and history of periodontitis. Nineteen patients were diabetic and most of them presented a good control of the disease at the time of surgery. The overall patient-level prevalence of peri-implantitis was 11.3%. Among diabetic patients, one developed peri-implantitis, whereas one experienced multiple implant failures. The calculated ORs, adjusted for smoking status and periodontitis, were not statistically significant. The results revealed no association between diabetes and peri-implantitis or implant failure coherently with the existing scientific literature. The actual influence of hyperglycemia on implant failure is still uncertain and new studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed
Synchrotron Emission from Hot Accretion Flows and the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy
Current estimates of number counts of radio sources in the frequency range
where the most sensitive Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments are
carried out significantly under-represent sources with strongly inverted
spectra. Hot accretion flows around supermassive black holes in the nuclei of
nearby galaxies are expected to produce inverted radio spectra by thermal
synchrotron emission. We calculate the temperature fluctuations and power
spectra of these sources in the Planck Surveyor 30 GHz energy channel, where
their emission is expected to peak. We find that their potential contribution
is generally comparable to the instrumental noise, and approaches the CMB
anisotropy level at small angular scales. Forthcoming CMB missions, which will
provide a large statistical sample of inverted-spectra sources, will be crucial
for determining the distribution of hot accretion flows in nearby quiescent
galactic nuclei. Detection of these sources in different frequency channels
will help constrain their spectral characteristics, hence their physical
properties.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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