Improved cosmic microwave background (de-)lensing using general spherical harmonic transforms

Deep cosmic microwave background polarization experiments allow a very precise internal reconstruction of the gravitational lensing signal in pricinple. For this aim, likelihood-based or Bayesian methods are typically necessary, where very large numbers of lensing and delensing remappings on the sphere are sometimes required before satisfactory convergence. We discuss here an optimized piece of numerical code in some detail that is able to efficiently perform both the lensing operation and its adjoint (closely related to delensing) to arbitrary accuracy, using nonuniform fast Fourier transform technology. Where applicable, we find that the code outperforms current widespread software by a very wide margin. It is able to produce high-resolution maps that are accurate enough for next-generation cosmic microwave background experiments on the timescale of seconds on a modern laptop. The adjoint operation performs similarly well and removes the need for the computation of inverse deflection fields. This publicly available code enables de facto efficient spherical harmonic transforms on completely arbitrary grids, and it might be applied in other areas as well.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, final A&

Ein retrospektiver Vergleich von Messerkonisationen aus Cottbus der Jahre 1990-1994 mit den Ergebnissen der Schlingenkonisationen aus Jena der Jahre 1996-2007 hinsichtlich der postoperativen R1-Raten

Sichere und unkomplizierte Diagnoseverfahren sowie die adäquate Behandlung der Krebsvorstufen der Zervix uteri sind für die zumeist jungen Patientinnen von wesentlicher Bedeutung. Die vorliegende retrospektive Studie befasst sich mit dem Vergleich von Messerkonisation (n=897) und Schlingenkonisation (n=619) hinsichtlich des Risikos für R1. Zugleich werden Daten der Messerkonisationen bezüglich des Alters sowie der Häufigkeitsverteilungen von Zytologie und Histologie nach Konisation, bzw. nach darauf erfolgter Hysterektomie ausgewertet und diskutiert. Es fanden sich R1-Raten von 36,2% bei Messerkonisationen vs. 11,8% bei Schlingenkonisationen. Die Auswertung der Daten der Messerkonisationen hinsichtlich der Güte des zytologischen Abstriches zur Identifikation hochgradiger Dysplasien (CIN2+) ergab eine Sensitivität von 49,9%, Spezifität von 80,7%, einen positiven und negativen prädiktiven Wert von je 91,9% und 26,8%. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer R1-Resektion ist bei suspektem zytologischen Befund (ab Pap IIID) und hochgradiger Dysplasie (CIN 2+) signifikant erhöht (p=0,000). Eine Hysterektomie nach R1-Konisation bestätigte in 51,5% der Fälle (n=137) eine residuale Dysplasie im zervikalen Gewebe; nach R0-Konisation fanden sich in 23,5% (n=23) der Hysterektomiepräparate Atypien im Sinne einer CIN. In der Gruppe der Frauen ab 50 Jahren fand sich eine höhere Sensitivität (67,9%) und eine niedrigere Spezifität (64,7%) für die zytologische Untersuchung als im Kollektiv der jüngeren Patientinnen (je 48,5% und 82,6%). Es ließen sich die vorherrschenden Empfehlungen - bezüglich der Schlingenkonisation als Methode der Wahl zur Therapie einer zervikalen intraepithelialen Neoplasie - bestätigen

Integration of an ultraviolet direct write laser and its red differential confocal probe

The maskless photolithography method direct laser writing (DLW) can achieve sub-100-nm writing resolution if the photoresist is kept well on the plane of best focus of the optical system. Deviation from this plane leads to larger than intended or loss of developed areas. Here we present an approach to account for this problem through a Bessel-Gauss beam for the exposure

Measurement precision of a planar nanopositioning machine with a range of motion of Ø100 mm

This work deals with various investigations into the accuracy of a newly developed planar nanopositioning machine. This machine, called Nanofabrication Machine 100 (NFM-100), has a positioning range of 100 mm in diameter. To determine the precision, various movement scenarios are performed with the machine table, and the trajectory deviation from the set trajectory is determined. In particular, the focus is on high velocities of up to 20 mm/s. Even at high speeds in the range of several millimetres per second, this machine can impress with its performance and only has a deviation in the nanometre range

Treating asthma: is there a place for leukotriene receptor antagonists?

SummaryAsthma is a chronic disorder, characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation and airway remodelling. Evidence has been provided for a relationship between pathophysiology, airway inflammation and remodelling. Moreover, these asthma features have been shown to respond to anti-inflammatory therapy. According to current guidelines, monitoring of asthma is predominantly based on symptoms and lung function data. However, these parameters appeared as poor indices for asthma control. Alternatively, asthma control relates well to exacerbations and (anamnestic) surrogate biomarkers of airway inflammation. Hence, appropriate treatment of asthma should primarily target the airway inflammation.According to current guidelines for asthma management, anti-inflammatory therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is the cornerstone in the treatment of persistent asthma. To further optimize asthma control, add-on therapy with long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) should be combined with low to high doses of ICS. While the first combination focuses on optimal control of symptoms and lung function, the second provides a more complete suppression of the airway inflammation.In this paper we discuss treatment of asthma according to current guidelines versus new insights, addressing practical issues

An electrothermally actuated Membrane as oscillating Pinhole for the highfrequent Modulation of Light

Differential Confocal Microscopy (DCM) can provide nanometer depth sensitivity for optical profilometry. We investigate a new approach for the creation of a differential depth signal through an oscillating pinhole, thereby reducing overall size, yet enhancing speed of the detection

Foreground Separation and Constraints on Primordial Gravitational Waves with the PICO Space Mission

PICO is a concept for a NASA probe-scale mission aiming to detect or constrain the tensor to scalar ratio $r$, a parameter that quantifies the amplitude of inflationary gravity waves. We carry out map-based component separation on simulations with five foreground models and input $r$ values $r_{in}=0$ and $r_{in} = 0.003$. We forecast $r$ determinations using a Gaussian likelihood assuming either no delensing or a residual lensing factor $A_{\rm lens}$ = 27%. By implementing the first full-sky, post component-separation, map-domain delensing, we show that PICO should be able to achieve $A_{\rm lens}$ = 22% - 24%. For four of the five foreground models we find that PICO would be able to set the constraints r < 1.3 \times 10^{-4} \,\, \mbox{to} \,\, r <2.7 \times 10^{-4}\, (95\%) if $r_{in}=0$, the strongest constraints of any foreseeable instrument. For these models, $r=0.003$ is recovered with confidence levels between $18\sigma$ and $27\sigma$. We find weaker, and in some cases significantly biased, upper limits when removing few low or high frequency bands. The fifth model gives a $3\sigma$ detection when $r_{in}=0$ and a $3\sigma$ bias with $r_{in} = 0.003$. However, by correlating $r$ determinations from many small 2.5% sky areas with the mission's 555 GHz data we identify and mitigate the bias. This analysis underscores the importance of large sky coverage. We show that when only low multipoles $\ell \leq 12$ are used, the non-Gaussian shape of the true likelihood gives uncertainties that are on average 30% larger than a Gaussian approximation.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, published in JCA

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Prefabricerade byggelement - en studie av projekteringsprocessen

The purpose with this examination report is to analyze the design process and too suggest guidelines for the design process with prefabricated building elements. The report also discusses which contract form that is most appropriate in the design process with prefabricated building elements. The report has resulted in a general description of how the design process works. Interviews with involved parties from NCC in project Forvaltningsrätten and numerous books describing the processes together with design engineer from Gudmund Israelssons Ingenjörsbyrå AB has resulted in guidelines for the design process. The background to the guidelines lies in a project that NCC performs in Linköping with prefabricated building elements. The design process has been studied and means has been suggested in the guidelines in purpose to simplify the design process. The guidelines that is important to take into consideration before the design process is to overlook the communication. A substantial amount of time should be reserved at the start of the design process to reduce delays later in the project. Under the design process it is imperative to have a systematic surveillance to reassure that the quality and coordinate is achieved. Further it has been established that there is some contract forms that is more appropriate than others when it comes to the design process with prefabricated building elements. Construction Management is most appropriate when dealing with prefabricated building elements. After Construction Management comes design and build contract and then last construction contract.Denna rapport syftar till att analysera projekteringsprocessen och ta fram riktlinjer för projektering med prefabricerade byggelement som kan användas i framtida projekt. Rapporten behandlar även vilken entreprenadform som betraktas vara lämpligast vid projektering med prefabricerade byggelement. Arbetet har resulterat i en generell beskrivning av hur projekteringsprocessen fungerar. Intervjuer med inblandade från NCC i projekt Förvaltningsrätten och litteraturstudier har tillsammans med konstruktör från Gudmund Israelssons Ingenjörsbyrå AB utmynnat i riktlinjer för projektering. Bakgrunden till dessa riktlinjer ligger i ett projekt som NCC utför i Linköping med prefabricerade byggelement. Projekteringsarbetet under projektet har studerats och vissa hjälpmedel har föreslagits i riktlinjerna med syfte att förenkla projekteringsprocessen med prefabricerade byggelement. De riktlinjer som är viktiga att beakta innan projektering är att se över hur kommunikation sker. God tid för projektering bör avsättas i början av projekteringen för att minska förseningar i slutändan. Under projekteringen är det viktigt att ha en systematisk styrning av projekteringen för att uppnå rätt kvalitet samt att samordning fungerar mellan inblandade parter. Vidare har det även konstaterats att det finns entreprenadformer som lämpar sig bättre än andra vid projektering med prefabricerade byggelement. Construction Management är den entreprenadform som lämpar sig bäst, följd av totalentreprenad och slutligen utförandeentreprenad