474 research outputs found
First season QUaD CMB temperature and polarization power spectra
QUaD is a bolometric CMB polarimeter sited at the South Pole, operating at frequencies of 100 and 150 GHz. In this paper we report preliminary results from the first season of operation (austral winter 2005). All six CMB power spectra are presented derived as cross spectra between the 100 and 150 GHz maps using 67 days of observation in a low foreground region of approximately 60 deg^2. These data are a small fraction of the data acquired to date. The measured spectra are consistent with the ΛCDM cosmological model. We perform jackknife tests that indicate that the observed signal has negligible contamination from instrumental systematics. In addition, by using a frequency jackknife we find no evidence for foreground contamination
Characterization of the Millimeter-Wave Polarization of Centaurus A with QUaD
Centaurus (Cen) A represents one of the best candidates for an isolated,
compact, highly polarized source that is bright at typical cosmic microwave
background (CMB) experiment frequencies. We present measurements of the 4
degree by 2 degree region centered on Cen A with QUaD, a CMB polarimeter whose
absolute polarization angle is known to 0.5 degrees. Simulations are performed
to assess the effect of misestimation of the instrumental parameters on the
final measurement and systematic errors due to the field's background structure
and temporal variability from Cen A's nuclear region are determined. The total
(Q, U) of the inner lobe region is (1.00 +/- 0.07 (stat.) +/- 0.04 (sys.),
-1.72 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.05) Jy at 100 GHz and (0.80 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.06, -1.40 +/-
0.07 +/- 0.08) Jy at 150 GHz, leading to polarization angles and total errors
of -30.0 +/- 1.1 degrees and -29.1 +/- 1.7 degrees. These measurements will
allow the use of Cen A as a polarized calibration source for future millimeter
experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, v2 matches version published in Ap
Recommended from our members
Parity Violation Constraints Using Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization Spectra from 2006 and 2007 Observations by the QUaD Polarimeter
We constrain parity-violating interactions to the surface of last scattering using spectra from the QUaD experiment’s second and third seasons of observations by searching for a possible systematic rotation of the polarization directions of cosmic microwave background photons. We measure the rotation angle due to such a possible ‘‘cosmological birefringence’’ to be (random) (systematic) using QUaD’s 100 and 150 GHz temperature-curl and gradient-curl spectra over the spectra over the multipole range 200 << 2000, consistent with null, and constrain Lorentz-violating interactions to <2 10 GeV (68% confidence limit). This is the best constraint to date on electrodynamic parity violation on cosmological scales.Astronom
A pre-initiation complex at the 3′-end of genes drives antisense transcription independent of divergent sense transcription
The precise nature of antisense transcripts in eukaryotes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae remains elusive. Here we show that the 3′ regions of genes possess a promoter architecture, including a pre-initiation complex (PIC), which mirrors that at the 5′ region and which is much more pronounced at genes with a defined antisense transcript. Remarkably, for genes with an antisense transcript, average levels of PIC components at the 3′ region are ∼60% of those at the 5′ region. Moreover, at these genes, average levels of nascent antisense transcription are ∼45% of sense transcription. We find that this 3′ promoter architecture persists for highly transcribed antisense transcripts where there are only low levels of transcription in the divergent sense direction, suggesting that the 3′ regions of genes can drive antisense transcription independent of divergent sense transcription. To validate this, we insert short 3′ regions into the middle of other genes and find that they are capable of both initiating antisense transcripts and terminating sense transcripts. Our results suggest that antisense transcription can be regulated independently of divergent sense transcription in a PIC-dependent manner and we propose that regulated production of antisense transcripts represents a fundamental and widespread component of gene regulation
Parameter Estimation from Improved Measurements of the CMB from QUaD
We evaluate the contribution of cosmic microwave background (CMB)
polarization spectra to cosmological parameter constraints. We produce
cosmological parameters using high-quality CMB polarization data from the
ground-based QUaD experiment and demonstrate for the majority of parameters
that there is significant improvement on the constraints obtained from
satellite CMB polarization data. We split a multi-experiment CMB dataset into
temperature and polarization subsets and show that the best-fit confidence
regions for the LCDM 6-parameter cosmological model are consistent with each
other, and that polarization data reduces the confidence regions on all
parameters. We provide the best limits on parameters from QUaD EE/BB
polarization data and we find best-fit parameters from the multi-experiment CMB
dataset using the optimal pivot scale of k_p=0.013 Mpc-1 to be {omch2, ombh2,
H_0, A_s, n_s, tau}= {0.113, 0.0224, 70.6, 2.29 times 10^-9, 0.960, 0.086}.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, updated to reflect published version, minor
changes to spelling and forma
Second and Third Season QUaD Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature and Polarization Power Spectra
We report results from the second and third seasons of observation with the QUaD experiment. Angular
power spectra of the cosmic microwave background are derived for both temperature and polarization at
both 100 GHz and 150 GHz, and as cross-frequency spectra. All spectra are subjected to an extensive
set of jackknife tests to probe for possible systematic contamination. For the implemented data cuts and
processing technique such contamination is undetectable. We analyze the difference map formed between the
100 and 150 GHz bands and find no evidence of foreground contamination in polarization. The spectra are
then combined to form a single set of results which are shown to be consistent with the prevailing LCDM
model. The sensitivity of the polarization results is considerably better than that of any previous experiment—
for the first time multiple acoustic peaks are detected in the E-mode power spectrum at high significance
The QUAD Galactic Plane Survey 1: Maps and Analysis of Diffuse Emission
We present a survey of ~ 800 square degrees of the galactic plane observed with the QUaD telescope. The
primary product of the survey are maps of Stokes I, Q and U parameters at 100 and 150 GHz, with spatial
resolution 5 and 3.5 arcminutes respectively. Two regions are covered, spanning approximately 245 - 295°
and 315 - 5° in galactic longitude l, and -4 < b < +4° in galactic latitude b. At 0:02° square pixel size, the
median sensitivity is 74 and 107 kJy/sr at 100 GHz and 150 GHz respectively in I, and 98 and 120 kJy/sr for
Q and U. In total intensity, we find an average spectral index of α = 2:35+-0:01(stat)+-0:02(sys) for |b| ≤1°,
indicative of emission components other than thermal dust. A comparison to published dust, synchrotron
and free-free models implies an excess of emission in the 100 GHz QUaD band, while better agreement is
found at 150 GHz. A smaller excess is observed when comparing QUaD 100 GHz data to WMAP 5-year
W band; in this case the excess is likely due to the wider bandwidth of QUaD. Combining the QUaD and
WMAP data, a two-component spectral fit to the inner galactic plane (|b| ≤1°) yields mean spectral indices
of αs = -0:32+-0:03 and αd = 2:84+-0:03; the former is interpreted as a combination of the spectral indices
of synchrotron, free-free and dust, while the second is attributed largely to the thermal dust continuum. In
the same galactic latitude range, the polarization data show a high degree of alignment perpendicular to the
expected galactic magnetic field direction, and exhibit mean polarization fraction 1:38+-0:08(stat)+-0:1(sys)%
at 100 GHz and 1:70+-0:06(stat)+-0:1(sys)% at 150 GHz. We find agreement in polarization fraction between
QUaD 100 GHz and WMAP W band, the latter giving 1:1+-0:4%
Cosmological Parameters from the QUaD CMB polarization experiment
In this paper we present a parameter estimation analysis of the polarization
and temperature power spectra from the second and third season of observations
with the QUaD experiment. QUaD has for the first time detected multiple
acoustic peaks in the E-mode polarization spectrum with high significance.
Although QUaD-only parameter constraints are not competitive with previous
results for the standard 6-parameter LCDM cosmology, they do allow meaningful
polarization-only parameter analyses for the first time. In a standard
6-parameter LCDM analysis we find the QUaD TT power spectrum to be in good
agreement with previous results. However, the QUaD polarization data shows some
tension with LCDM. The origin of this 1 to 2 sigma tension remains unclear, and
may point to new physics, residual systematics or simple random chance. We also
combine QUaD with the five-year WMAP data set and the SDSS Luminous Red
Galaxies 4th data release power spectrum, and extend our analysis to constrain
individual isocurvature mode fractions, constraining cold dark matter density,
alpha(cdmi)<0.11 (95 % CL), neutrino density, alpha(ndi)<0.26 (95 % CL), and
neutrino velocity, alpha(nvi)<0.23 (95 % CL), modes. Our analysis sets a
benchmark for future polarization experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Ap
Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Background
A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets.
Methods
Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis.
Results
A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001).
Conclusion
We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty
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