Determination of pulsation periods and other parameters of 2875 stars classified as MIRA in the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS)

We have developed an interactive PYTHON code and derived crucial ephemeris data of 99.4% of all stars classified as 'Mira' in the ASAS data base, referring to pulsation periods, mean maximum magnitudes and, whenever possible, the amplitudes among others. We present a statistical comparison between our results and those given by the AAVSO International Variable Star Index (VSX), as well as those determined with the machine learning automatic procedure of Richards et al. 2012. Our periods are in good agreement with those of the VSX in more than 95% of the stars. However, when comparing our periods with those of Richards et al, the coincidence rate is only 76% and most of the remaining cases refer to aliases. We conclude that automatic codes require still more refinements in order to provide reliable period values. Period distributions of the target stars show three local maxima around 215, 275 and 330 d, apparently of universal validity, their relative strength seems to depend on galactic longitude. Our visual amplitude distribution turns out to be bimodal, however 1/3 of the targets have rather small amplitudes (A $<$ 2.5$^{m}$) and could refer to semi-regular variables (SR). We estimate that about 20% of our targets belong to the SR class. We also provide a list of 63 candidates for period variations and a sample of 35 multiperiodic stars which seem to confirm the universal validity of typical sequences in the double period and in the Petersen diagramsComment: 14 pages, 14 figures, and 8 tables. Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, September 201

A translation algorithm to solve semantic conflicts in information exchange

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (p. 93).by Nancy C. Gotta.M.Eng

Guidelines for the study of subsidence triggered by hydrocarbon production

This study was carried out by the SEADOG Research Center at Politecnico di Torino (Italy). The purpose of this work was to evaluate which complexity degree would be required to reliably approach a subsidence study for different scenarios. The study was based on sensitivity analyses which were performed using a series of 3D synthetic numerical models of which the structural characteristics and geological and mechanical properties were based on available public data of onshore and offshore hydrocarbon fields in Italy. An array of simulations, both one-way and two-way coupled, were carried out to assess the magnitude and extension of subsidence potentially induced by hydrocarbon production. The results allowed the calculation of subsidence indices defined as the rate of compaction propagation (i.e., the ratio between the maximum surface displacement and the maximum reservoir compaction) and as the rate of volume loss (i.e. the ratio between the volume of the subsidence bowl or cone and the volume variation of the reservoir). These indices together with the degree of the underground systems’ heterogeneity led to the definition of the Intact Rock Qualitative Subsidence Index (IRQSI), upon which the needed complexity degree of a subsidence study can be discerned

Suivi thérapeutique de l'imatinib

* Le monitoring (suivi) joue un rôle important pour un traitement et son évaluation - pour autant qu'il se base sur la mesure de marqueurs cliniques adéquats ou de substituts validés. * Pour ce qui est du traitement d'imatinib, le «therapeutic drug monitoring» (TDM) semble être une option utile pour le contrôle du traitement de la LMC. Il utilise la concentration plasmatique de ce médicament comme marqueur. * Les concentrations plasmatiques d'imatinib varient considérablement d'un patient à l'autre sous un même schéma posologique, en raison de la variabilité interindividuelle de sa pharmacocinétique. Il a été démontré que l'exposition plasmatique était en corrélation avec le résultat clinique des patients LMC - aussi bien pour la réponse au traitement que pour le profil d'effets indésirables. * Il n'est pas encore établi si le TDM de l'imatinib doit être utilisé que dans le cas de problèmes cliniques ou si les patients LMC peuvent déjà profiter d'un contrôle préventif systématique «de routine» - de manière à garder la concentration plasmatique dans des marges thérapeutiques. Cela est toujours plus recommandé ces derniers temps. * Pour répondre à cette question, une étude suisse prospective, randomisée et contrôlée recrute des patients LMC traités par imatinib depuis moins de 5 ans et propose en outre le TDM pour tous les patients en cas de problèmes cliniques. - * Monitoring spielt eine wichtige Rolle zur Therapieevaluierung und Behandlungsentscheidung - solange es auf der Basis der Messung von entsprechenden klinischen oder validierten Surrogat-Markern stattfindet. * Im Hinblick auf die Imatinib-Therapie scheint das «Therapeutische Drug-Monitoring» (TDM) ein nützlicher Ansatz zum Therapie-Monitoring der CML-Behandlung zu sein, welches die Plasmakonzentration des Arzneimittels als Marker zur Therapieüberwachung verwendet. * Imatinib-Plasmakonzentrationen variieren beträchtlich von Patient zu Patient unter dem gleichen Dosierungsschema, aufgrund der interindividuell unterschiedlichen Pharmakokinetik des Arzneimittels. Für die Plasmaexposition wurde gezeigt, dass sie mit dem klinischen Outcome von CML-Patienten korreliert - sowohl im Bezug auf das Therapieansprechen als auch auf das Nebenwirkungsprofil. * Es ist noch unklar, ob das TDM von Imatinib nur im Falle von klinischen Problemen Verwendung finden sollte oder ob CML-Patienten bereits von einem systematischen, präventiven «Routine»-Monitoring zur Therapieindividualisierung - zur Steuerung der Plasmakonzentration in einen therapeutischen Bereich - profitieren könnten, welches in letzter Zeit immer häufiger empfohlen wird. * Um diese Fragestellung zu beantworten, nimmt eine prospektive, randomisiert kontrollierte Schweizer Studie CML-Patienten auf, die seit weniger als 5 Jahren mit Imatinib behandelt werden, und bietet das TDM zudem für alle Patienten im Falle von klinischen Problemen an

High Resolution He-like Argon And Sulfur Spectra From The PSI ECRIT

We present new results on the X-ray spectroscopy of multicharged argon, sulfur and chlorine obtained with the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Trap (ECRIT) in operation at the Paul Scherrer Institut (Villigen, Switzerland). We used a Johann-type Bragg spectrometer with a spherically-bent crystal, with an energy resolution of about 0.4 eV. The ECRIT itself is of a hybrid type, with a superconducting split coil magnet, special iron inserts which provides the mirror field, and a permanent magnetic hexapole. The high frequency was provided by a 6.4 GHz microwave emitter. We obtained high intensity X-ray spectra of multicharged F-like to He-like argon, sulfur and chlorine with one 1s hole. In particular, we observed the 1s2s^{3}S_1 \to 1s^2^{1}S_0 M1 and 1s2p^{3}P_2 \to 1s^2^{1}S_0 M2 transitions in He-like argon, sulfur and chlorine with unprecedented statistics and resolution. The energies of the observed lines are being determined with good accuracy using the He-like M1 line as a reference

Line shape of the muH(3p - 1s) hyperfine transitions

The (3p - 1s) X-ray transition to the muonic hydrogen ground state was measured with a high resolution crystal spectrometer. A Doppler effect broadening of the X-ray line was established which could be attributed to different Coulomb de-excitation steps preceding the measured transition. The assumption of a statistical population of the hyperfine levels of the muonic hydrogen ground state was directly confirmed by the experiment and measured values for the hyperfine splitting can be reported. The results allow a decisive test of advanced cascade model calculations and establish a method to extract fundamental strong-interaction parameters from pionic hydrogen experiments.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among a cohort of HIV-infected women in a large Italian teaching hospital : a 30-year retrospective study

The primary study objective was to investigate three decades from 1985 to 2014 of changes in pregnancies among HIV-infected women. The secondary objective was to assess risk factors associated with preterm delivery and severe small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants in HIV-infected women. A retrospective review of deliveries among pregnant HIV-infected women at the University of Genoa and IRCCS San Martino-IST in Genoa between 1985 and 2014 was performed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to study the variables associated with neonatal outcomes. Overall, 262 deliveries were included in the study. An increase in median age (26 years in 1985-1994 vs. 34 years in 2005-2014), in the proportion of foreigners (none in 1985-1994 vs. 27/70 (38\ub76%) in 2005-2014), and a decrease in intravenous drug use (75\ub72% (91/121) in 1985-1994 vs. 12\ub79% (9/70) in 2005-2014) among pregnant HIV-infected women was observed. Progressively, HIV infections were diagnosed sooner (prior to pregnancy in 80% (56/70) of women in the last decade). An increase in combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) prescription during pregnancy (50% (27/54) in 1995-2004 vs. 92\ub72% (59/64) in 2005-2014) and in HIV-RNA &lt;50 copies/ml at delivery (19\ub72% (5/26) in 1995-2004 vs. 82\ub73% (53/64) in 2005-2014) was observed. The rate of elective caesarean section from 1985 to 1994 was 9\ub71%, which increased to 92\ub73% from 2004 to 2015. Twelve (10\ub71%) mother-to-child transmissions (MTCT) occurred in the first decade, and six (8\ub73%) cases occurred in the second decade, the last of which was in 2000. Preterm delivery (&lt;37 weeks gestation) was 5% (6/121) from 1985 to 1994 and increased to 17\ub71% (12/70) from 2005 to 2014. In univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, advancing maternal age and previous pregnancies were associated with preterm delivery (odds ratio (OR) 2\ub77; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1-7\ub78 and OR 2\ub76; 95% CI 1\ub71-6\ub77, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, use of heroin or methadone was found to be the only risk factor for severe SGA (OR 3\ub71; 95% CI 1\ub74-6\ub78). In conclusion, significant changes in demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of HIV-infected pregnant women have occurred over the last 30 years. Since 2000, MTCT has decreased to zero. An increased risk of preterm delivery was found to be associated with advancing maternal age and previous pregnancies but not with cART. The use of heroin or methadone has been confirmed as a risk factor associated with severe SGA

Energy Dependence of the Delta Resonance: Chiral Dynamics in Action

There is an important connection between the low energy theorems of QCD and the energy dependence of the Delta resonance in pi-N scattering, as well as the closely related gamma^{*} N -> pi N reaction. The resonance shape is due not only to the strong pi-N interaction in the p wave but the small interaction in the s wave; the latter is due to spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking in QCD (i.e. the Nambu-Goldstone nature of the pion). A brief overview of experimental tests of chiral perturbation theory and chiral based models is presentedComment: 11 pages, 6 figures, Festschrift for S.N. yan

Pionic Deuterium

The strong interaction shift and broadening in pionic deuterium have been remeasured with high statistics by means of the (3p-1s) X-ray transition using the cyclotron trap and a high-resolution crystal spectrometer. Preliminary results are (-2325+/-31) meV (repulsive) for the shift and (1171+23/-49} meV for the width, which yields precise values for the pion-deuteron scattering length and the threshold parameter for pion production.Comment: Conf. Proc. Few Body 19 (FB19), August 31 - September 5, 2009, Bonn, Germany 9 pages, 13 figure

Precision calculation of the pi^- deuteron scattering length and its impact on threshold pi-N scattering

We present a calculation of the pi^- d scattering length with an accuracy of a few percent using chiral perturbation theory. For the first time isospin-violating corrections are included consistently. Using data on pionic deuterium and pionic hydrogen atoms, we extract the isoscalar and isovector pion-nucleon scattering lengths and obtain a^+=(7.6 +/- 3.1) x 10^{-3} mpi^{-1} and a^-=(86.1 +/- 0.9) x 10^{-3} mpi^{-1}. Via the Goldberger-Miyazawa-Oehme sum rule, this leads to a charged-pion-nucleon coupling constant g_c^2/4 pi = 13.69 +/- 0.20.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Discussion of several points expanded, references added in this version, which will appear in Physics Letters