Comparing the performance of stellar variability filters for the detection of planetary transits

We have developed a new method to improve the transit detection of Earth-sized planets in front of solar-like stars by fitting stellar microvariability by means of a spot model. A large Monte Carlo numerical experiment has been designed to test the performance of our approach in comparison with other variability filters and fitting techniques for stars of different magnitudes and planets of different radius and orbital period, as observed by the space missions CoRoT and Kepler. Here we report on the results of this experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 3 postscript figures, Transiting Planets Proceeding IAU Symposium No.253, 200

Laboratory studies of infrared absorption by NO2 and HNO3

Data concerning the quantitative absorption in the 11 and 22 micron region by HNO3 were obtained. Results are presented indicating the temperature dependence of these bands of HNO3 vapor. The 21.8 micron absorption bands of HNO3 vapor at 40 C are discussed along with the integrated intensity and line parameters for the 6.2 micron band of NO2

Crime and Control at the Chess Park

This dissertation is an ethnographic study of a public chess park located in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The chess park brings together persons from all backgrounds, although most are African American, poor (often homeless), unemployed, and male. The chess park is nestled among office buildings, college classrooms, various shops and restaurants, and, perhaps not coincidentally, directly across from a police precinct. Despite this visibility, however, the chess players regularly engage in public illicit behavior. This includes, but not limited to, a pervasive and wholly self-regulated underground economy, illicit drug use, and public drinking. Drawing on extensive field observations and interviews, this study examines why the chess players go to the park, how they avoid formal sanction when committing prohibited acts, and, when that fails, how they are sanctioned and to what effect. The chess players go to the park to play chess, for its central location, for community, and to hustle and engage in vice. When engaged in the latter, they try to prevent sanction through passing as normal by playing chess, using props, using blockades, being on the lookout, and showing respect. Such measures are not always executed or successful, though. Thus, sometimes the chess players are caught violating a prohibition by ambassadors or police officers. These authority figures handle such acts by giving warnings, asking the individual to leave, and making an arrest. Though these sanctions deter misbehavior in the short-term, they appear to have no long-term effect. The dissertation concludes by discussing how the findings inform larger debates in criminology and criminal justice

Exoplanet atmospheres with GIANO II. Detection of molecular absorption in the dayside spectrum of HD 102195b

The study of exoplanetary atmospheres is key to understand the differences between their physical, chemical and dynamical processes. Up to now, the bulk of atmospheric characterization analysis has been conducted on transiting planets. On some sufficiently bright targets, high-resolution spectroscopy (HRS) has also been successfully tested for non-transiting planets. We study the dayside of the non-transiting planet HD 102195b using the GIANO spectrograph mounted at TNG, demonstrating the feasibility of atmospheric characterization measurements and molecular detection for non-transiting planets with the HRS technique using 4-m class telescopes. The Doppler-shifted planetary signal changes on the order of many km/s during the observations, in contrast with the telluric absorption which is stationary in wavelength, allowing us to remove the contamination from telluric lines while preserving the features of the planetary spectrum. The emission signal from HD 102195b's atmosphere is then extracted by cross-correlating the residual spectra with atmospheric models. We detect molecular absorption from water vapor at 4.4$\sigma$ level. We also find convincing evidence for the presence of methane, which is detected at the 4.1$\sigma$ level. The two molecules are detected with a combined significance of 5.3$\sigma$, at a semi-amplitude of the planet radial velocity $K_P=128\pm 6$ km/s. We estimate a planet true mass of $M_P=0.46\pm 0.03~M_J$ and orbital inclination between 72.5 and 84.79$^{\circ}$ (1$\sigma$). Our analysis indicates a non-inverted atmosphere for HD 102195b, as expected given the relatively low temperature of the planet, inefficient to keep TiO/VO in gas phase. Moreover, a comparison with theoretical expectations and chemical model predictions corroborates our methane detection and suggests that the detected $CH_4$ and $H_2O$ signatures could be consistent with a low C/O ratio.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Infections in Cancer Patients

Cancer therapy is a dynamically evolving field. Chemotherapy and biologic agents impact the magnitude and duration of immunosuppression in the already-immunocompromised cancer hosts who are then susceptible to a broad spectrum of infectious complications ranging from mild opportunistic infections to severe, fatal neutropenic sepsis. Numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral organisms have been implicated dictating varied preventative approaches. Rapid assessment and risk stratification of febrile patients identify individuals requiring hospital admission. Timely delivery of antimicrobials reduces the risk of complications and death. Herein, we summarize the current “state of art” in the management of infection in the cancer patient. We detail the advances in antibacterial and antifungal therapy

Exoplanet atmospheres with GIANO. I. Water in the transmission spectrum of HD 189733b

High-resolution spectroscopy (R $\ge$ 20,000) at near-infrared wavelengths can be used to investigate the composition, structure, and circulation patterns of exoplanet atmospheres. However, up to now it has been the exclusive dominion of the biggest telescope facilities on the ground, due to the large amount of photons necessary to measure a signal in high-dispersion spectra. Here we show that spectrographs with a novel design - in particular a large spectral range - can open exoplanet characterisation to smaller telescope facilities too. We aim to demonstrate the concept on a series of spectra of the exoplanet HD 189733 b taken at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo with the near-infrared spectrograph GIANO during two transits of the planet. In contrast to absorption in the Earth's atmosphere (telluric absorption), the planet transmission spectrum shifts in radial velocity during transit due to the changing orbital motion of the planet. This allows us to remove the telluric spectrum while preserving the signal of the exoplanet. The latter is then extracted by cross-correlating the residual spectra with template models of the planet atmosphere computed through line-by-line radiative transfer calculations, and containing molecular absorption lines from water and methane. By combining the signal of many thousands of planet molecular lines, we confirm the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of HD 189733 b at the 5.5-$\sigma$ level. This signal was measured only in the first of the two observing nights. By injecting and retrieving artificial signals, we show that the non-detection on the second night is likely due to an inferior quality of the data. The measured strength of the planet transmission spectrum is fully consistent with past CRIRES observations at the VLT, excluding a strong variability in the depth of molecular absorption lines.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. v2 includes language editin

Ceftazidime/Avibactam and Ceftolozane/Tazobactam: Second-generation β-Lactam/β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations

Ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam are 2 novel β-lactam/β-lactamase combination antibiotics. The antimicrobial spectrum of activity of these antibiotics includes multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria (GNB), including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ceftazidime/avibactam is also active against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae that produce Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases. However, avibactam does not inactivate metallo-β-lactamases such as New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases. Both ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam are only available as intravenous formulations and are dosed 3 times daily in patients with normal renal function. Clinical trials showed noninferiority to comparators of both agents when used in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections (when used with metronidazole). Results from pneumonia studies have not yet been reported. In summary, ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam are 2 new second-generation cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. After appropriate trials are conducted, they may prove useful in the treatment of MDR GNB infections. Antimicrobial stewardship will be essential to preserve the activity of these agents