Bad pixel modified interpolation for astronomical images

We present a new method of interpolation for the pixel brightness estimation in astronomical images. Our new method is simple and easily implementable. We show the comparison of this method with the widely used linear interpolation and other interpolation algorithms using one thousand astronomical images obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The comparison shows that our method improves bad pixels brightness estimation with four times lower mean error than the presently most popular linear interpolation and has a better performance than any other examined method. The presented idea is flexible and can be also applied to presently used and future interpolation methods. The proposed method is especially useful for large sky surveys image reduction but can be also applied to single image correction.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures. Printed in PASP, September 201

Single-Shot Electron Imaging of Dopant-Induced Nanoplasmas

We present single-shot electron velocity-map images of nanoplasmas generated from doped helium nanodroplets and neon clusters by intense near-infrared and mid-infrared laser pulses. We report a large variety of signal types, most crucially depending on the cluster size. The common feature is a two-component distribution for each single-cluster event: a bright inner part with nearly circular shape corresponding to electron energies up to a few eV, surrounded by an extended background of more energetic electrons. The total counts and energy of the electrons in the inner part are strongly correlated and follow a simple power-law dependence. Deviations from the circular shape of the inner electrons observed for neon clusters and large helium nanodroplets indicate non-spherical shapes of the neutral clusters. The dependence of the measured electron energies on the extraction voltage of the spectrometer indicates that the evolution of the nanoplasma is significantly affected by the presence of an external electric field. This conjecture is confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, which reproduce the salient features of the experimental electron spectra.The authors are grateful for financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the project MU 2347/12-1 and STI 125/22-2 in the frame of the Priority Programme 1840 ‘Quantum Dynamics in Tailored Intense Fields’, from the Carlsberg Foundation and the SPARC Programme, MHRD, India. The ELI-ALPS Project (GINOP-2.3.6-15-2015-00001) is supported by the European Union and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. AH is grateful for financial support from the Basque Government (Project Reference No. IT1254-19) and from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competividad (Reference No. CTQ2015-67660-P). Computational and manpower support provided by IZO-SGI SG Iker of UPV/EHU and European funding (EDRF and ESF) is gratefully acknowledged

Vitamin D pathway-related gene polymorphisms and their association with metabolic diseases: a literature review

Purpose: Given that the relationship between vitamin D status and metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear, this review will focus on the genetic associations, which are less prone to confounding, between vitamin D-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and metabolic diseases. Methods: A literature search of relevant articles was performed on PubMed up to December 2019. Those articles that had examined the association of vitamin D-related SNPs with obesity and/or T2D were included. Two reviewers independently evaluated the eligibility for the inclusion criteria and extracted the data. In total, 73 articles were included in this review. Results: There is a lack of research focussing on the association of vitamin D synthesis-related genes with obesity and T2D; however, the limited available research, although inconsistent, is suggestive of a protective effect on T2D risk. While there are several studies that investigated the vitamin D metabolism-related SNPs, the research focussing on vitamin D activation, catabolism and transport genes is limited. Studies on CYP27B1, CYP24A1 and GC genes demonstrated a lack of association with obesity and T2D in Europeans; however, significant associations with T2D were found in South Asians. VDR gene SNPs have been extensively researched; in particular, the focus has been mainly on BsmI (rs1544410), TaqI (rs731236), ApaI (rs7975232) and FokI (rs2228570) SNPs. Even though the association between VDR SNPs and metabolic diseases remain inconsistent, some positive associations showing potential effects on obesity and T2D in specific ethnic groups were identified. Conclusion: Overall, this literature review suggests that ethnic-specific genetic associations are involved. Further research utilizing large studies is necessary to better understand these ethnic-specific genetic associations between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic diseases

New Stochastic Dependences Paradigm and its Application in Probabilistic Modeling

Non

Analysis of supply parameters of single- and double-string LED lamps with integrated AC direct capacitorless drivers

Thanks to a very high luminous efficacy of LED lamps (over 160 lm/W) they are the most preferred light sources in lighting applications today. The useful lifetime of LED modules exceeds 50,000 hours. Chromatic parameters of lamps making use of SSL (Solid State Lighting) have already equalled classic solutions, although they were noticeably worse not so long ago. High values of the Colour Rendering Index and (CRI) ease of control over the luminous flux cause that lamps with LEDs have become very attractive solutions. Today, the most important problem concerns LED drivers supplied from the 230 VAC mains. The lifetime of switched-mode converters, including electrolytic capacitors, is considerably shorter than that of LEDs. This paper discusses the features of alternative drivers for LED modules which are supplied directly from the 230 VAC mains and do not contain any electrolytic capacitors. In particular, power factor and efficiency of lamps with one or two strings are analysed and some hints concerning optimal design of such lamps are given. A unique feature of this work is a detailed analysis of harmonics contents in the supply current of such drivers, proving their conformity with the relevant standard. Finally, some problems associated with flicker resulting from the considered type of supply are mentioned

Quinone-dependent delayed fluorescence from the reaction center of photosynthetic bacteria.

Millisecond delayed fluorescence from the isolated reaction center of photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides was measured after single saturating flash excitation and was explained by thermal repopulation of the excited bacteriochlorophyll dimer from lower lying charge separated states. Three exponential components (fastest, fast, and slow) were found with lifetimes of 1.5, 102, and 865 ms and quantum yields of 6.4 x 10(-9), 2.2 x 10(-9), and 2.6 x 10(-9) (pH 8.0), respectively. While the two latter phases could be related to transient absorption changes, the fastest one could not. The fastest component, dominating when the primary quinone was prereduced, might be due to a small fraction of long-lived triplet states of the radical pair and/or the dimer. The fast phase observed in the absence of the secondary quinone, was sensitive to pH, temperature, and the chemical nature of the primary quinone. The standard free energy of the primary stable charge pair relative to that of the excited dimer was -910 +/- 20 meV at pH 8 and with native ubiquinone, and it showed characteristic changes upon pH and quinone replacement. The interaction energy ( approximately 50 meV) between the cluster of the protonatable groups around GluL212 and the primary semiquinone provides evidence for functional linkage between the two quinone binding pockets. An empirical relationship was found between the in situ free energy of the primary quinone and the rate of charge recombination, with practical importance in the estimation of the free energy levels from the easily available lifetime of the charge recombination. The ratio of the slow and fast components could be used to determine the pH dependence of the free energy level of the secondary stable charge pair relative to that of the excited dimer

Informacja o koszcie wytworzenia zakończonych produktów i jej użyteczność dla inżynierów produkcji - przypadek małego przedsiębiorstwa

The article stresses the consequences of simplifications implemented in the measurement process of goods produced that are of crucial importance to production engineers in SME. The authors show the variety of possibilities that might be used by financial employees together with probable outputs in terms of valuation distortions. Using the case study the authors emphasis the importance of close cooperation of production engineers with finance professionals as out-puts of finance departments consist an important input for decision-making process of production managers. Furthermore, demonstrated deficiencies in terms of methods applicable in financial reporting for measurement of the value of goods produced indicate the need for incorporation more financial and non-financial data in the process of judgments about the final cost of goods produced as simplifications applied in SME distort financial information provided to production engineers.Artykuł uwypukla konsekwencje uproszczeń przyjmowanych w procesie pomiaru wartości wyrobów gotowych, które mają istotne znaczenie dla inżynierów produkcji w małych i średnich jednostkach. Autorzy wskazują na wielość możliwości, które mogą zastosować pracownicy działów finansowych, w procesie wyceny produktów zakończonych, wraz z możliwymi konsekwencjami zastosowanych rozwiązań w postaci zniekształceń wartości wyrobów gotowych. Wykorzystując studium przypadku autorzy podkreślają wagę bliskiej współpracy pracowników działów produkcji z pracownikami działów finansowych ponieważ wyniki pracy działów finansowych stanowią ważną determinantę podejmowania decyzji przez pracowników działów produkcji. Ponadto, wskazane niedostatki w uproszczonych metodach stosowanych przez małe i średnie jednostki w zakresie sporządzania raportów finansowych, uwypuklają konieczność włączenia do procesu podejmowania decyzji przez inżynierów innych finansowych i niefinansowych danych, co wynika z możliwości wystąpienia nieścisłości w danych finansowych