16 research outputs found
The very flat radio - millimetre spectrum of Cygnus X-1
We present almost-simultaneous detections of Cygnus X-1 in the radio and mm
regimes, obtained during the low/hard X-ray state. The source displays a flat
spectrum between 2 and 220 GHz, with a spectral index flatter than 0.15
(3sigma). There is no evidence for either a low- or high-frequency cut-off, but
in the mid-infrared (~30 microns) thermal emission from the OB-type companion
star becomes dominant. The integrated luminosity of this flat-spectrum emission
in quiescence is > 2 x 10^{31} erg/s (2 x 10^{24} W). Assuming the emission
originates in a jet for which non-radiative (e.g. adiabatic expansion) losses
dominate, this is a very conservative lower limit on the power required to
maintain the jet. A comparison with Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105, the other X-ray
binaries for which a flat spectrum at shorter than cm wavelengths has been
observed, shows that the jet in Cyg X-1 is significantly less luminous and less
variable, and is probably our best example to date of a continuous, steady,
outflow from an X-ray binary. The emissive mechanism reponsible for such a flat
spectral component remains uncertain. Specifically, we note that the radio-mm
spectra observed from these X-ray binaries are much flatter than those of the
`flat-spectrum' AGN, and that existing models of synchrotron emission from
partially self-absorbed radio cores, which predict a high-frequency cut-off in
the mm regime, are not directly applicable.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Neutrino Oscillations and the Supernova 1987A Signal
We study the impact of neutrino oscillations on the interpretation of the
supernova (SN) 1987A neutrino signal by means of a maximum-likelihood analysis.
We focus on oscillations between with or
with those mixing parameters that would solve the solar
neutrino problem. For the small-angle MSW solution (, ), there are no
significant oscillation effects on the Kelvin-Helmholtz cooling signal; we
confirm previous best-fit values for the neutron-star binding energy and
average spectral temperature. There is only marginal overlap
between the upper end of the 95.4\% CL inferred range of and the lower end of the range of theoretical
predictions. Any admixture of the stiffer spectrum by
oscillations aggravates the conflict between experimentally inferred and
theoretically predicted spectral properties. For mixing parameters in the
neighborhood of the large-angle MSW solution (, ) the oscillations in the SN are adiabatic,
but one needs to include the regeneration effect in the Earth which causes the
Kamiokande and IMB detectors to observe different spectra. For
the solar vacuum solution (,
) the oscillations in the SN are nonadiabatic; vacuum
oscillations take place between the SN and the detector. If either of the
large-angle solutions were borne out by the upcoming round of solar neutrino
experiments, one would have to conclude that the SN~1987A
and/or spectra had been much softer than predicted by currentComment: Final version with very minor wording changes, to be published in
Phys. Rev.
Is Large Lepton Mixing Excluded?
The original \bnum -(or -) energy spectrum from the
gravitational collapse of a star has a larger average energy than the spectrum
for \bnue since the opacity of \bnue exeeds that of \bnum (or ).
Flavor neutrino conversion, \bnue \bnum, induced by lepton
mixing results in partial permutation of the original \bnue and \bnum spectra.
An upper bound on the permutation factor, (99 CL) is derived
using the data from SN1987A and the different models of the neutrino burst. The
relation between the permutation factor and the vacuum mixing angle is
established, which leads to the upper bound on this angle. The excluded region,
, covers the regions of large mixing angle
solutions of the solar neutrino problem: ``just-so" and, partly, MSW, as well
as part of region of oscillation space which could be
responsible for the atmospheric muon neutrino deficit. These limits are
sensitive to the predicted neutrino spectrum and can be strengthened as
supernova models improve.Comment: 20 pages, TeX file. For hardcopy with figures contact
[email protected]. Institute for Advanced Study number AST 93/1
The time-dependent one-zone hadronic model: first principles
We present some results on the radiative signatures of the one zone hadronic
model. For this we have solved five spatially averaged, time-dependent coupled
kinetic equations which describe the evolution of relativistic protons,
electrons, photons, neutrons and neutrinos in a spherical volume containing a
magnetic field. Protons are injected and lose energy by synchrotron, photopair
and photopion production. We model photopair and photopion using the results of
relevant MC codes, like the SOPHIA code in the case of photopion, which give
accurate description for the injection of secondaries which then become source
functions in their respective equations. This approach allows us to calculate
the expected photon and neutrino spectra simultaneously in addition to
examining questions like the efficiency and the temporal behaviour of the
hadronic models.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of HEPRO III Conference,
27/06/11-01/07/1
Degenerate and Other Neutrino Mass Scenarios and Dark Matter
I discuss in this talk mainly three topics related with dark matter motivated neutrino mass spectrum and a generic issue of mass pattern, the normal versus the inverted mass hierarchies. In the first part, by describing failure of a nontrivial potential counter example, I argue that the standard 3 mixing scheme with the solar and the atmospheric 's is robust. In the second part, I discuss the almost degenerate neutrino (ADN) scenario as the unique possibility of accommodating dark matter mass neutrinos into the 3 scheme. I review a cosmological bound and then reanalyze the constraints imposed on the ADN scenario with the new data of double beta decay experiment. In the last part, I discuss the 3 flavor transformation in supernova (SN) and point out the possibility that neutrinos from SN may distinguish the normal versus inverted hierarchies of neutrino masses. By analyzing the neutrino data from SN1987A, I argue that the inverted mass hierarchy is disfavored by the data
Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study
Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030
Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study
Summary
Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally.
Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies
have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of
the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income
countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality.
Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to
hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis,
exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a
minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical
status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary
intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause,
in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status.
We did a complete case analysis.
Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital
diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal
malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome
countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male.
Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3).
Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income
countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups).
Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome
countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries;
p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients
combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11],
p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20
[1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention
(ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety
checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed
(ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of
parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65
[0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality.
Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome,
middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will
be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger
than 5 years by 2030