Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Optimization of an ac-dc transfer step-up scheme

A set of statistical tools is proposed for the optimization of an alternating current-direct current voltage or current transfer step-up scheme. These tools are used to remove standards with level dependence and instabilities and to discard unusual measurements with the aim of minimizing the uncertainties. The method was applied to the new Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Industrial current step-up. © 2007 IEEE.Fil: Di Lillo, Lucas Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Grünhut Duenyas, Vivian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria; ArgentinaFil: Kornblit, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Laiz, Héctor Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; Argentin

Final report: SIM regional comparison of AC-DC voltage transfer difference (SIM.EM.K6a, SIM.EM-K9 and SIM.EM-K11)

98 f. : il.In the Sistema Interamericano de Metrología (SIM) there are several National Metrology Institutes having calibration and measurement capabilities in the ac-dc voltage transfer difference, but only three NMIs have participated in the CCEM Key Comparisons of ac-dc transfer difference, CCEM-K6a, CCEM-K9 and CCEM-K11. Three comparisons, SIM.EM-K6 A, SIM.EM-K9, SIM.EM-K11, were proposed to assess the measurement capabilities of the remaining NMIs in the SIM region, in ac-dc voltage transfer difference. The proposed test points were selected to link the results of such comparisons with the equivalent CCEM Key Comparisons, through the three NMIs participating in both. Additionally, a fourth comparison, SIM.EM-Supplementary, was proposed, in support of the SIM NMIs power/energy meter calibration capabilities. CENAM volunteered to provide the travelling standard (TS) and to pilot and coordinate the comparison references values were to be based on the results provided by the laboratories with participation in the key comparisons. The comparisons started in January 2004 and the measurements were concluded in December 2004. The Draft A was issued by the pilot laboratory and was reviewed by the participants in 2006, comments were added and the final results are reported in this document

Intercomparación multilateral de potencia eléctrica, entre los laboratorios nacionales de Alemania, Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay

7 p. : il.Se presentan en este trabajo los resultados de la intercomparación en Potencia Eléctrica, entre los Laboratorios Nacionales de Alemania: Physikalisch – Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB), Argentina: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI), Brasil: Instituto Nacional de Metrología, Normalizaçao e Qualidade Industrial (INMETRO) y Uruguay: Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE), llevada a cabo durante 2004. El elemento utilizado como instrumento viajero fue un patrón de potencia perteneciente al PTB. Los resultados muestran valores compatibles para todos los laboratorios participantes, teniendo en cuenta los valores de desvío como las incertidumbres declaradas

Children living with HIV in Europe: do migrants have worse treatment outcomes?

International audienceTo assess the effect of migrant status on treatment outcomes among children living with HIV in Europe

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)

Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and History of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from GARFIELD-AF

BACKGROUND: Many patients with atrial fibrillation have concomitant coronary artery disease with or without acute coronary syndromes and are in need of additional antithrombotic therapy. There are few data on the long-term clinical outcome of atrial fibrillation patients with a history of acute coronary syndrome. This is a 2-year study of atrial fibrillation patients with or without a history of acute coronary syndromes