GALFIT-CORSAIR: implementing the core-Sersic model into GALFIT

We introduce GALFIT-CORSAIR: a publicly available, fully retro-compatible modification of the 2D fitting software GALFIT (v.3) which adds an implementation of the core-Sersic model. We demonstrate the software by fitting the images of NGC 5557 and NGC 5813, which have been previously identified as core-Sersic galaxies by their 1D radial light profiles. These two examples are representative of different dust obscuration conditions, and of bulge/disk decomposition. To perform the analysis, we obtained deep Hubble Legacy Archive (HLA) mosaics in the F555W filter (~V-band). We successfully reproduce the results of the previous 1D analysis, modulo the intrinsic differences between the 1D and the 2D fitting procedures. The code and the analysis procedure described here have been developed for the first coherent 2D analysis of a sample of core-Sersic galaxies, which will be presented in a forth-coming paper. As the 2D analysis provides better constraining on multi-component fitting, and is fully seeing-corrected, it will yield complementary constraints on the missing mass in depleted galaxy cores.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASP; A binary version of GALFIT-CORSAIR is publicly available at http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/~pbonfini/galfit-corsair

Midlife Suicide: Examination Through an Ecological and Interpersonal Lens

Suicide has increased over the past decade among midlife adults in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of death among persons aged 35–54 years and the eighth leading cause of death among persons aged 55–64 years. The primary purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to examine, describe, and understand the lived experiences of midlife adults who have contemplated suicide and who have sought assistance and support from their peers via an online forum for those with an interest in and/or history of suicidality. Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) bioecological model, Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal theory of suicide, and van Manen’s (1990) phenomenological method provide lenses through which these experiences may be understood. The four categories that emerged from the data include the following: biopsychosocial considerations, specifically physical decline and economic risk; mental health concerns stemming from psychiatric illness; connectivity with others; and a desire to end pain. The findings suggest that experiencing suicidality as a midlife adult is a largely isolating experience and that online forums may provide a respite from loneliness and disconnection. This inquiry identifies relevant implications for counselor education and counseling practice as well as offering suggestions for future research

Introducing Hermes: Executing Clinical Quality Language (CQL) at over 66 Million Resources per Second (inexpensively)

Clinical Quality Language (CQL) has emerged as a standard for rule representation in Clinical Decision Support (CDS) and Electronic Clinical Quality Measurement (eCQM) in healthcare. While open-source reference implementations and a few commercial engines exist, there is still a market need for high-performance engines that can execute CQL queries on the scales of millions of patients. We introduce the \Hermes{} engine as the world's fastest commercial CQL execution engine.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 2 appendice

Spectroscopy of the bright optical counterparts of X-ray sources in the direction of M 31. II

A recent survey of the Local Group spiral galaxy M 31 with XMM-Newton yielded a large number of X-ray sources. This is the second in a series of papers with the aim of identifying the optical counterparts of these X-ray sources. We have obtained optical spectra for 21 bright optical counterparts of 20 X-ray sources in the direction of M 31, using the 1.3-m Skinakas telescope in Crete, Greece. For 17 of the 20 X-ray sources, we have identified the optical counterpart as a normal late type star (of type F or later) in the foreground (i.e. in the Milky Way). For two more sources there were two possible optical counterparts in each case, while two more objects have X-ray properties that are not compatible with the spectral characteristics of late type non-flaring stars.Comment: Accepted for publication by Astronomy & Astrophysics (7 pages, 8 figures, and 2 tables

Report on the use of EU Reference Methods and JRC decision tools for GMO analysis

To ensure harmonised scientific and technical approaches for GMO detection the European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (EURL GMFF) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a freely accessible database, called “GMOMETHODS" providing a state-of-the-art catalogue of EU reference methods for GMO analysis. The EURL GMFF launched in 2015 a survey to assess the use of these EU reference methods by the official GMO control laboratories in the EU and to collect information on non-EU reference methods possibly employed for the same purpose. The survey aimed also to verify if, and to which extent, laboratories use two decision supporting tools, the JRC GMO-Matrix and Event-Finder which are available on the web site of the EURL GMFF. The survey was also directed to verify the types and frequencies of modifications possibly implemented in the protocols of the validated methods used by the official control laboratories. Results from the survey indicate that almost all official control laboratories (98 %) are using event-specific EU reference methods for quantifying GMOs while a lower number of laboratories is using EU reference methods for qualitative analyses (55 % for element-specific methods and 40 % for construct-specific methods). The use of qualitative non-EU reference methods for screening purposes may reflect the laboratory needs when facing rapid alert emergencies of quickly implementing analytical strategies for detecting non-authorised GM events. Indeed genetically modified crops have continued to increase globally, both in terms of approval status and event/trait diversification. In those cases methods validated in collaborative studies and having the status of EU-reference methods are generally not yet available. In the survey close to half of the respondents (41 %-47 %) declared also to employ to different extents the two JRC decision supporting tools, GMO-Matrix and Event-Finder. Interestingly the survey shows that almost half of the protocols of the reference methods used by the laboratories are somewhat adapted to laboratory specific conditions, mainly with respect to the master mix and the reaction volume of the polymerase chain reactions (PCR) while the primers and probes are never modified. In all cases, the impact of these modifications had been verified by the control laboratory to ensure the equivalence between the adapted and the original protocols. Without such proof, the laboratory would lose its mandatory accreditation. Moreover, participants in Comparative Testing schemes have achieve generally high score performance using those adapted methods suggesting that the modifications implemented do not affect analytical sensitivity, trueness and precision of the original protocols. The outcome of the 2015 survey reveals therefore that the combined efforts of the EURL GMFF and ENGL have been successful for enhancing harmonisation in quantitative GMO analysis by the adoption of scientific and technical approaches. This achievement allows the consistency of results for GM labelling and an equal-level playing field in the EU Member States.JRC.F.5-Food and Feed Complianc