3,740 research outputs found
ROSAT implementation of a proposed multi-mission x ray data format
Until recently little effort has been made to ensure that data from X-ray telescopes are delivered in a format that reflects the common characteristics that most X-ray datasets share. Instrument-specific data-product design hampers the comparison of X-ray measurements made by different detectors and should be avoided whenever possible. The ROSAT project and the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) have defined a set of X-ray data products ('rationalized files') for ROSAT data that can be used for distribution and archiving of data from other X-ray missions. This set of 'rationalized files' has been defined to isolate instrument-independent and instrument-specific quantities using standards FITS constructs to ensure portability. We discuss the usage of the 'rationalized files' by ROSAT for data distribution and archiving, with particular emphasis on discrimination between instrument-independent and instrument-specific quantities, and discuss application of this format to data from other X-ray missions
Discovery and Characterization of 3000+ Main-Sequence Binaries from APOGEE Spectra
We develop a data-driven spectral model for identifying and characterizing
spatially unresolved multiple-star systems and apply it to APOGEE DR13 spectra
of main-sequence stars. Binaries and triples are identified as targets whose
spectra can be significantly better fit by a superposition of two or three
model spectra, drawn from the same isochrone, than any single-star model. From
an initial sample of 20,000 main-sequence targets, we identify
2,500 binaries in which both the primary and secondary star contribute
detectably to the spectrum, simultaneously fitting for the velocities and
stellar parameters of both components. We additionally identify and fit
200 triple systems, as well as 700 velocity-variable systems in
which the secondary does not contribute detectably to the spectrum. Our model
simplifies the process of simultaneously fitting single- or multi-epoch spectra
with composite models and does not depend on a velocity offset between the two
components of a binary, making it sensitive to traditionally undetectable
systems with periods of hundreds or thousands of years. In agreement with
conventional expectations, almost all the spectrally-identified binaries with
measured parallaxes fall above the main sequence in the color-magnitude
diagram. We find excellent agreement between spectrally and dynamically
inferred mass ratios for the 600 binaries in which a dynamical mass ratio
can be measured from multi-epoch radial velocities. We obtain full orbital
solutions for 64 systems, including 14 close binaries within hierarchical
triples. We make available catalogs of stellar parameters, abundances, mass
ratios, and orbital parameters.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS with minor revisions since v1. 19 pages, 12
figures, plus Appendice
Population genetic analysis of a medicinally significant Australian rainforest tree, Fontainea picrosperma C.T. White (Euphorbiaceae): biogeographic patterns and implications for species domestication and plantation establishment
Background: Fontainea picrosperma, a subcanopy tree endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Australia, is of medicinal significance following the discovery of the novel anti-cancer natural product, EBC-46. Laboratory synthesis of EBC-46 is unlikely to be commercially feasible and consequently production of the molecule is via isolation from F. picrosperma grown in plantations. Successful domestication and plantation production requires an intimate knowledge of a taxon’s life-historyattributes and genetic architecture, not only to ensure the maximum capture of genetic diversity from wild source populations, but also to minimise the risk of a detrimental loss in genetic diversity via founder effects during subsequent breeding programs designed to enhance commercially significant agronomic traits. Results: Here we report the use of eleven microsatellite loci (PIC = 0.429; PID = 1.72 × 10−6 ) to investigate the partitioning of genetic diversity within and among seven natural populations of F. picrosperma. Genetic variation among individuals and within populations was found to be relatively low (A = 2.831; HE = 0.407), although there was marked differentiation among populations (PhiPT = 0.248). Bayesian, UPGMA and principal coordinates analyses detected three main genotypic clusters (K = 3), which were present at all seven populations. Despite low levels of historical gene flow (Nm = 1.382), inbreeding was negligible (F = -0.003); presumably due to the taxon’s dioecious breeding system. Conclusion: The data suggests that F. picrosperma was previously more continuously distributed, but that rainforest contraction and expansion in response to glacial-interglacial cycles, together with significant anthropogenic effects have resulted in significant fragmentation. This research provides important tools to support plantation establishment, selection and genetic improvement of this medicinally significant Australian rainforest species
Early respiratory viral infections in infants with cystic fibrosis
This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.Background
Viral infections contribute to morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF), but the impact of respiratory viruses on the development of airway disease is poorly understood.
Methods
Infants with CF identified by newborn screening were enrolled prior to 4 months of age to participate in a prospective observational study at 4 centers. Clinical data were collected at clinic visits and weekly phone calls. Multiplex PCR assays were performed on nasopharyngeal swabs to detect respiratory viruses during routine visits and when symptomatic. Participants underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and a subset underwent pulmonary function testing. We present findings through 8.5 months of life.
Results
Seventy infants were enrolled, mean age 3.1 ± 0.8 months. Rhinovirus was the most prevalent virus (66%), followed by parainfluenza (19%), and coronavirus (16%). Participants had a median of 1.5 viral positive swabs (range 0–10). Past viral infection was associated with elevated neutrophil concentrations and bacterial isolates in BAL fluid, including recovery of classic CF bacterial pathogens. When antibiotics were prescribed for respiratory-related indications, viruses were identified in 52% of those instances.
Conclusions
Early viral infections were associated with greater neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial pathogens. Early viral infections appear to contribute to initiation of lower airway inflammation in infants with CF. Antibiotics were commonly prescribed in the setting of a viral infection. Future investigations examining longitudinal relationships between viral infections, airway microbiome, and antibiotic use will allow us to elucidate the interplay between these factors in young children with CF
Monte Carlo energy and variance minimization techniques for optimizing many-body wave functions
We investigate Monte Carlo energy and variance minimization techniques for
optimizing many-body wave functions. Several variants of the basic techniques
are studied, including limiting the variations in the weighting factors which
arise in correlated sampling estimations of the energy and its variance. We
investigate the numerical stability of the techniques and identify two reasons
why variance minimization exhibits superior numerical stability to energy
minimization. The characteristics of each method are studied using a
non-interacting 64-electron model of crystalline silicon. While our main
interest is in solid state systems, the issues investigated are relevant to
Monte Carlo studies of atoms, molecules and solids. We identify a robust and
efficient variance minimization scheme for optimizing wave functions for large
systems.Comment: 14 pages, including 7 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. B. For related
publications see http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/Publications/many_body.htm
Site controlled red-yellow-green light emitting InGaN quantum discs on nano-tipped GaN rods
We report a method of growing site controlled InGaN multiple quantum discs (QDs) at uniform wafer scale on coalescence free ultra-high density (>80%) nanorod templates by metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The dislocation and coalescence free nature of the GaN space filling nanorod arrays eliminates the well-known emission problems seen in InGaN based visible light sources that these types of crystallographic defects cause. Correlative scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping and cathodoluminescence (CL) hyperspectral imaging illustrates the controlled site selection of the red, yellow and green (RYG) emission at these nano tips. This article reveals that the nanorod tips’ broad emission in the RYG visible range is in fact achieved by manipulating the InGaN QD’s confinement dimensions, rather than significantly increasing the In%. This article details the easily controlled method of manipulating the QDs dimensions producing high crystal quality InGaN without complicated growth conditions needed for strain relaxation and alloy compositional changes seen for bulk planar GaN templates
The relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and survival in patients with gastro-oesopohageal cancer
It remains unclear whether any aspect of quality of life has a role in predicting survival in an unselected cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), clinico-pathological characteristics and survival in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Patients presenting with gastric or oesophageal cancer, staged using the UICC tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification and who received either potentially curative surgery or palliative treatment between November 1997 and December 2002 (n=152) participated in a quality of life study, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire. On univariate analysis, age (P < 0.01), tumour length (P < 0.0001), TNM stage (P<0.0001), weight loss (P<0.0001), dysphagia score (P<0.001), performance status (P<0.1) and treatment (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. EORTC QLQ-C30, physical functioning (P<0.0001), role functioning (P<0.001), cognitive functioning (P<0.01), social functioning (P<0.0001), global quality of life (P<0.0001), fatigue (P<0.0001), nausea/vomiting (P<0.01), pain (P<0.001), dyspnoea (P<0.0001), appetite loss (P<0.0001) and constipation (P<0.05) were also significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate survival analysis, tumour stage (P<0.0001), treatment (P<0.001) and appetite loss (P<0.0001) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. The present study highlights the importance of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) measures, in particular appetite loss, as a prognostic factor in these patients
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