Security warning system monitors up to fifteen remote areas simultaneously

Security warning system consisting of 15 television cameras is capable of monitoring several remote or unoccupied areas simultaneously. The system uses a commutator and decommutator, allowing time-multiplexed video transmission. This security system could be used in industrial and retail establishments

Deep GeMS/GSAOI near-infrared observations of N159W in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Aims. The formation and properties of star clusters at the edge of H II regions are poorly known, partly due to limitations in angular resolution and sensitivity, which become particularly critical when dealing with extragalactic clusters. In this paper we study the stellar content and star-formation processes in the young N159W region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Methods. We investigate the star-forming sites in N159W at unprecedented spatial resolution using JHKs-band images obtained with the GeMS/GSAOI instrument on the Gemini South telescope. The typical angular resolution of the images is of 100 mas, with a limiting magnitude in H of 22 mag (90 percent completeness). Photometry from our images is used to identify candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) in N159W. We also determine the H-band luminosity function of the star cluster at the centre of the H II region and use this to estimate its initial mass function (IMF). Results. We estimate an age of 2 + or - 1 Myr for the central cluster, with its IMF described by a power-law with an index of gamma = - 1.05 + or - 0.2 , and with a total estimated mass of 1300 solar mass. We also identify 104 candidate YSOs, which are concentrated in clumps and subclusters of stars, principally at the edges of the H II region. These clusters display signs of recent and active star-formation such as ultra-compact H II regions, and molecular outflows. This suggests that the YSOs are typically younger than the central cluster, pointing to sequential star-formation in N159W, which has probably been influenced by interactions with the expanding H II bubble

How Abundant is Iron in the Core of the Perseus Cluster?

The analysis of Perseus data collected with the Medium Energy Concentrator Spectrometer (MECS) on board Beppo-SAX shows that the ratio of the flux of the 8 keV line complex (dominated by Fe K$_{\beta}$ emission) over the 6.8 keV line complex (dominated by Fe K$_{\alpha}$ emission) is significantly larger than predicted by standard thermal emission codes. Moreover the analysis of spatially resolved spectra shows that the above ratio decreases with increasing cluster radius. We find that, amongst the various explanations we consider, the most likely requires the plasma to be optically thick for resonant scattering at the energy of the Fe K$_{\alpha}$ line. We argue that if this is the case, then measures of the iron abundance made using standard thermal emission codes, that assume optically thin emission, can significantly underestimate the true iron abundance. In the case of the core of Perseus we estimate the true abundance to be $\sim$ 0.9 solar in a circular region with radius of $\sim 60$ kpc and centered on NGC 1275. Finally we speculate that similar results may hold for the core of other rich clusters.Comment: 19 pages, 3 Postscript figure

Communication about Psychotic Symptoms in Long-Term Psychiatric Illness

Background: Communicating about psychotic symptoms can be challenging. This study aimed to identify (1) how psychiatrists and patients communicate about psychotic symptoms from a research and clinical perspective and (2) whether communication patterns depend on patients' symptom levels. Sampling and Methods: Consultations between 27 psychiatrists and 100 patients with long-term schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder in outpatient clinics were video-recorded, transcribed and coded. Symptoms were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Avoidance or engagement with psychotic symptoms was coded separately by researchers and three clinical psychiatrists. Results: Psychotic symptoms were not mentioned in 27% of consultations. Patients reported their absence in 34% of consultations and avoided talking about symptoms in 6%. Researchers rated psychiatrists as engaged in talking about psychotic symptoms in 15% of consultations and avoiding talking about them in 18% of consultations. Psychiatrists identified somewhat less avoidance (10%) and more engagement (23%). Psychiatrist avoidance was seen when the patient raised the topic and the psychiatrist gave brief responses and/or changed the topic. When psychiatrists engaged, they asked specific questions about symptoms, responded to patient concerns and provided explanations about symptoms. Psychotic symptoms were more often discussed with patients with more negative and general symptoms. Conclusions: There is considerable variation in whether psychotic symptoms are discussed or not in outpatient consultations. Whether psychiatrists discuss psychotic symptoms is influenced by patients' symptoms; however, not by their psychotic symptoms but rather by the presence of negative and general symptoms. Psychiatrists' ratings of communication identify broadly similar patterns as detailed research analyses

An X-ray and optical study of the cluster A33

We report the first detailed X-ray and optical observations of the medium-distant cluster A33 obtained with the Beppo-SAX satellite and with the UH 2.2m and Keck II telescopes at Mauna Kea. The information deduced from X-ray and optical imaging and spectroscopic data allowed us to identify the X-ray source 1SAXJ0027.2-1930 as the X-ray counterpart of the A33 cluster. The faint, F_{2-10 keV} \approx 2.4 \times 10^{-13} \ergscm2, X-ray source 1SAXJ0027.2-1930, $\sim 2$ arcmin away from the optical position of the cluster as given in the Abell catalogue, is identified with the central region of A33. Based on six cluster galaxy redshifts, we determine the redshift of A33, $z=0.2409$; this is lower than the value derived by Leir and Van Den Bergh (1977). The source X-ray luminosity, L_{2-10 keV} = 7.7 \times 10^{43} \ergs, and intracluster gas temperature, $T = 2.9$ keV, make this cluster interesting for cosmological studies of the cluster $L_X-T$ relation at intermediate redshifts. Two other X-ray sources in the A33 field are identified. An AGN at z$=$0.2274, and an M-type star, whose emission are blended to form an extended X-ray emission $\sim 4$ arcmin north of the A33 cluster. A third possibly point-like X-ray source detected $\sim 3$ arcmin north-west of A33 lies close to a spiral galaxy at z$=$0.2863 and to an elliptical galaxy at the same redshift as the cluster.Comment: 9 pages, 6 Figures, Latex (using psfig,l-aa), to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics S. (To get better quality copies of Figs.1-3 send an email to: [email protected]). A&AS, in pres

A striking correspondence between the dynamics generated by the vector fields and by the scalar parabolic equations

The purpose of this paper is to enhance a correspondence between the dynamics of the differential equations $\dot y(t)=g(y(t))$ on $\mathbb{R}^d$ and those of the parabolic equations $\dot u=\Delta u +f(x,u,\nabla u)$ on a bounded domain $\Omega$. We give details on the similarities of these dynamics in the cases $d=1$, $d=2$ and $d\geq 3$ and in the corresponding cases $\Omega=(0,1)$, $\Omega=\mathbb{T}^1$ and dim($\Omega$)$\geq 2$ respectively. In addition to the beauty of such a correspondence, this could serve as a guideline for future research on the dynamics of parabolic equations

Simple choreographies of the planar Newtonian NN-body Problem

In the $N$-body problem, a simple choreography is a periodic solution, where all masses chase each other on a single loop. In this paper we prove that for the planar Newtonian $N$-body problem with equal masses, $N \ge 3$, there are at least $2^{N-3} + 2^{[(N-3)/2]}$ different main simple choreographies. This confirms a conjecture given by Chenciner and etc. in \cite{CGMS02}.Comment: 31pages, 6 figures. Refinements in notations and proof

The Down syndrome critical region protein TTC3 inhibits neuronal differentiation via RhoA and Citron kinase.

The Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) on Chromosome 21 contains many genes whose duplication may lead to the major phenotypic features of Down syndrome and especially the associated mental retardation. However, the functions of DSCR genes are mostly unknown and their possible involvement in key brain developmental events still largely unexplored. In this report we show that the protein TTC3, encoded by one of the main DSCR candidate genes, physically interacts with Citron kinase (CIT-K) and Citron N (CIT-N), two effectors of the RhoA small GTPase that have previously been involved in neuronal proliferation and differentiation. More importantly, we found that TTC3 levels can strongly affect the NGF-induced differentiation of PC12 cells, by a CIT-K-dependent mechanism. Indeed, TTC3 overexpression leads to strong inhibition of neurite extension, which can be reverted by CIT-K RNAi. Conversely, TTC3 knockdown stimulates neurite extension in the same cells. Finally, we find that Rho, but not Rho kinase, is required for TTC3 differentiation-inhibiting activity. Our results suggest that the TTC3–RhoA–CIT-K pathway could be a crucial determinant of in vivo neuronal development, whose hyperactivity may result in detrimental effects on the normal differentiation program

Defects-related early childhood caries as hints of possible maternal–fetal health issues: Evidence from medieval northern Italy

Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are important markers of stress as they arise from the disruption of ameloblastic activity during enamel matrix secretion and mineralization. Defects on the crowns of the deciduous dentition provide insights into maternal–fetal health because they can emerge during intrauterine development as a result of gestational issues. The presence of previous defective enamel represents one of the most predisposing causes of caries development. Thus, circular caries on the deciduous dentition are considered an indicator of stress because of their ascertained relation with dental enamel defects. In bioarchaeological analysis, these lesions allow us to deepen the question of maternal–fetal health issues in the ancient period. Here, we present evidence of defects-related early childhood caries in three infants from a medieval cemetery in northern Italy. The findings in the dentitions of the three subjects were investigated with a multi-analytical approach, including macroscopic examination, microscopic observation, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and histological sections. In the specimens analyzed, the lesions observed in the dentitions appeared to have arisen during the fetal period and then protracted in the postnatal life, suggesting the implication of in utero environment and maternal health in the etiology of defects