Wide-Field Imaging and Polarimetry for the Biggest and Brightest in the 20GHz Southern Sky

We present wide-field imaging and polarimetry at 20GHz of seven of the most extended, bright (Stot >= 0.50 Jy), high-frequency selected radio sources in the southern sky with declinations < -30 deg. Accompanying the data are brief reviews of the literature for each source, The results presented here aid in the statistical completeness of the Australia Telescope 20GHz Survey's bright source sample. The data are of crucial interest for future cosmic microwave background missions as a collection of information about candidate calibrator sources. We are able to obtain data for seven of the nine sources identified by our selection criteria. We report that Pictor A is thus far the best extragalactic calibrator candidate for the Low Frequency Instrument of the Planck European Space Agency mission due to its high level of integrated polarized flux density (0.50+/-0.06 Jy) on a scale of 10 arcmin. Six of the seven sources have a clearly detected compact radio core, with either a null or less than two percent detection of polarized emission from the nucleus. Most sources with detected jets have magnetic field alignments running in a longitudinal configuration, however PKS1333-33 exhibits transverse fields and an orthogonal change in field geometry from nucleus to jets.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 2 table

Is there evidence for cosmic anisotropy in the polarization of distant radio sources?

Measurements of the polarization angle and orientation of cosmological radio sources may be used to search for unusual effects in the propagation of light through the universe. Recently, Nodland and Ralston (astro-ph/9704196) have claimed to find evidence for a redshift- and direction-dependent rotation effect in existing data. We re-examine these data and argue that there is no statistically significant signal present. We are able to place stringent limits on hypothetical chiral interactions of photons propagating through spacetime.Comment: 17 pages, including 7 figures. (Arithmetic error corrected, fixing value of chi^2

Optical Activity of a Neutrino Gas

For photons that propagate through a gas of neutrinos with a non-zero chemical potential, the left-handed and right-handed polarization modes acquire different dispersion relations. This is due to the CP and CPT-odd terms induced by such a background on the photon self-energy. We present a detailed calculation of this effect, which does not depend on any physical assumptions beyond those of the standard electroweak model. Some possible cosmological and astrophysical implications of our results are considered in several contexts, including the recent discussions regarding the rotation of the plane of polarization of electromagnetic waves over cosmological distances.Comment: latex, axodra

Brain inflammation is accompanied by peripheral inflammation in Cstb(-/-) mice, a model for progressive myoclonus epilepsy

Progressive myoclonus epilepsy of Unverricht-Lundborg type (EPM1) is an autosomal recessively inherited childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by myoclonus, seizures, and ataxia. Mutations in the cystatin B gene (CSTB) underlie EPM1. The CSTB-deficient (Cstb(-/-)) mouse model recapitulates key features of EPM1, including myoclonic seizures. The mice show early microglial activation that precedes seizure onset and neuronal loss and leads to neuroinflammation. We here characterized the inflammatory phenotype of Cstb(-/-) mice in more detail. We found higher concentrations of chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of Cstb(-/-) mice and higher CXCL13 expression in activated microglia in Cstb(-/-) compared to control mouse brains. The elevated chemokine levels were not accompanied by blood-brain barrier disruption, despite increased brain vascularization. Macrophages in the spleen and brain of Cstb(-/-) mice were predominantly pro-inflammatory. Taken together, these data show that CXCL13 expression is a hallmark of microglial activation in Cstb(-/-)mice and that the brain inflammation is linked to peripheral inflammatory changes, which might contribute to the disease pathology of EPM1.Peer reviewe

Connecting the sustainable development goals by their energy inter-linkages

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide guide-posts to society as it attempts to respond to an array of pressing challenges. One of these challenges is energy; thus, the SDGs have become paramount for energy policy-making. Yet, while governments throughout the world have already declared the SDGs to be 'integrated and indivisible', there are still knowledge gaps surrounding how the interactions between the energy SDG targets and those of the non-energy-focused SDGs might play out in different contexts. In this review, we report on a large-scale assessment of the relevant energy literature, which we conducted to better our understanding of key energy-related interactions between SDGs, as well as their context-dependencies (relating to time, geography, governance, technology, and directionality). By (i) evaluating the nature and strength of the interactions identified, (ii) indicating the robustness of the evidence base, the agreement of that evidence, and our confidence in it, and (iii) highlighting critical areas where better understanding is needed or context dependencies should be considered, our review points to potential ways forward for both the policy making and scientific communities. First, we find that positive interactions between the SDGs outweigh the negative ones, both in number and magnitude. Second, of relevance for the scientific community, in order to fill knowledge gaps in critical areas, there is an urgent need for interdisciplinary research geared toward developing new data, scientific tools, and fresh perspectives. Third, of relevance for policy-making, wider efforts to promote policy coherence and integrated assessments are required to address potential policy spillovers across sectors, sustainability domains, and geographic and temporal boundaries. The task of conducting comprehensive science-to-policy assessments covering all SDGs, such as for the UN's Global Sustainable Development Report, remains manageable pending the availability of systematic reviews focusing on a limited number of SDG dimensions in each case

Testing rapmod: Can a portable scanner collect exisitng building data and create an energy model faster and more accurately than a human

The paper describes the testing of a portable scanning system (RAPMOD), which is worn like a backpack and allows the user to walk through a building to collect essential energy-related data. From this walkthrough, the system collects data required for an energy model of the building using laser scanners, infrared scanners and cameras and converts these data into .idf format for use in EnergyPlus. The energy model includes the geometry of interior and exterior surfaces, window U-values, lighting levels, equipment levels and occupancy for each room. RAPMOD will be extended to include HVAC recognition in a subsequent phase of development. The main goal is to reduce the cost and skill level required to create energy simulation models for deep retrofit assessments, energy audits and retro commissioning for existing buildings through rapid and accurate energy model creation

Testing rapmod: Can a portable scanner collect exisitng building data and create an energy model faster and more accurately than a human

The paper describes the testing of a portable scanning system (RAPMOD), which is worn like a backpack and allows the user to walk through a building to collect essential energy-related data. From this walkthrough, the system collects data required for an energy model of the building using laser scanners, infrared scanners and cameras and converts these data into .idf format for use in EnergyPlus. The energy model includes the geometry of interior and exterior surfaces, window U-values, lighting levels, equipment levels and occupancy for each room. RAPMOD will be extended to include HVAC recognition in a subsequent phase of development. The main goal is to reduce the cost and skill level required to create energy simulation models for deep retrofit assessments, energy audits and retro commissioning for existing buildings through rapid and accurate energy model creation

Risk factors for TB infection and disease in young childhood contacts in Malawi

Background: Screening of children in household contact with smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) is universally recommended but seldom practiced in resource-poor settings. It has huge potential to reduce the burden of TB disease in children, particularly if streamlined to focus on those at greatest risk. Aims: To assess the prevalence of infection and disease amongst children aged (5 yrs in household contact with smear-positive TB. To identify which source case characteristics are risk factors for infection. Methods: A prospective, hospital-based audit was conducted over a 17-mth period in Southern Malawi. Smear-positive adults were identified and encouraged to bring their children to the outpatient clinic, in accordance with the national TB programme guidelines. Full assessment was performed, including tuberculin skin test. Results: 195 children aged <= 5 yrs who were contacts of 161 source cases were assessed. Prevalences of TB infection and disease were high (45% and 23%, respectively). The likelihood of a child being infected was significantly greater with increasing smear-positivity of the source case, and also if the source case were female (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.19-4.27, p=0.01). Conclusions: The high prevalence of TB infection and disease in child contacts attending this hospital-based clinic supports the current policy of contact-screening in Malawi. However, community-based studies are needed to provide a more accurate assessment of prevalence and risks for child contacts