9,319 research outputs found
Adaptive Filters Revisited - RFI Mitigation in pulsar observations
Pulsar detection and timing experiments are applications where adaptive
filters seem eminently suitable tools for radio-frequency-interference (RFI)
mitigation. We describe a novel variant which works well in field trials of
pulsar observations centred on an observing frequency of 675 MHz, a bandwidth
of 64 MHz and with 2-bit sampling. Adaptive filters have generally received bad
press for RFI mitigation in radio astronomical observations with their most
serious drawback being a spectral echo of the RFI embedded in the filtered
signals. Pulsar observations are intrinsically less sensitive to this as they
operate in the (pulsar period) time domain. The field trials have allowed us to
identify those issues which limit the effectiveness of the adaptive filter. We
conclude that adaptive filters can significantly improve pulsar observations in
the presence of RFI.Comment: Accepted for publication in Radio Scienc
Tempo2, a new pulsar timing package. II: The timing model and precision estimates
Tempo2 is a new software package for the analysis of pulsar pulse times of
arrival. In this paper we describe in detail the timing model used by tempo2,
and discuss limitations on the attainable precision. In addition to the
intrinsic slow-down behaviour of the pulsar, tempo2 accounts for the effects of
a binary orbital motion, the secular motion of the pulsar or binary system,
interstellar, Solar system and ionospheric dispersion, observatory motion
(including Earth rotation, precession, nutation, polar motion and orbital
motion), tropospheric propagation delay, and gravitational time dilation due to
binary companions and Solar system bodies. We believe the timing model is
accurate in its description of predictable systematic timing effects to better
than one nanosecond, except in the case of relativistic binary systems where
further theoretical development is needed. The largest remaining sources of
potential error are measurement error, interstellar scattering, Solar system
ephemeris errors, atomic clock instability and gravitational waves.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
TEMPO2, a new pulsar timing package. I: Overview
Contemporary pulsar timing experiments have reached a sensitivity level where
systematic errors introduced by existing analysis procedures are limiting the
achievable science. We have developed tempo2, a new pulsar timing package that
contains propagation and other relevant effects implemented at the 1ns level of
precision (a factor of ~100 more precise than previously obtainable). In
contrast with earlier timing packages, tempo2 is compliant with the general
relativistic framework of the IAU 1991 and 2000 resolutions and hence uses the
International Celestial Reference System, Barycentric Coordinate Time and
up-to-date precession, nutation and polar motion models. Tempo2 provides a
generic and extensible set of tools to aid in the analysis and visualisation of
pulsar timing data. We provide an overview of the timing model, its accuracy
and differences relative to earlier work. We also present a new scheme for
predictive use of the timing model that removes existing processing artifacts
by properly modelling the frequency dependence of pulse phase.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
Supernova Remnants in the Magellanic Clouds. V. The Complex Interior Structure of the N206 SNR
The N206 supernova remnant (SNR) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has long
been considered a prototypical "mixed morphology" SNR. Recent observations,
however, have added a new twist to this familiar plot: an elongated,
radially-oriented radio feature seen in projection against the SNR face.
Utilizing the high resolution and sensitivity available with the Hubble Space
Telescope, Chandra, and XMM-Newton, we have obtained optical emission-line
images and spatially resolved X-ray spectral maps for this intriguing SNR. Our
findings present the SNR itself as a remnant in the mid to late stages of its
evolution. X-ray emission associated with the radio "linear feature" strongly
suggests it to be a pulsar-wind nebula (PWN). A small X-ray knot is discovered
at the outer tip of this feature. The feature's elongated morphology and the
surrounding wedge-shaped X-ray enhancement strongly suggest a bow-shock PWN
structure.Comment: 41 pages including 7 figures, accepted for publication by the
Astrophysical Journa
Factors affecting attitudes toward colorectal cancer screening in the primary care population
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of death in the United Kingdom. Regular screening could significantly reduce CRC-related morbidity and mortality. However, screening programmes in the United Kingdom have to date seen uptake rates of less than 60%. Attitudes towards screening are the primary factors determining patient uptake. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to people aged 50-69 years who were registered with general practices in the West Midlands. A total of 11 355 people (53%) completed the questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify those factors (gender, age, ethnicity, deprivation, number of symptoms, and their duration) that most strongly contributed to negative/positive attitudes in the primary care population. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of respondents had a negative attitude towards screening. Men, older people, and those with Indian ethnic backgrounds were more likely to have negative attitudes toward screening, whereas people with Black-Caribbean ethnic background, people with multiple symptoms and those reporting abdominal pain, bleeding, and tiredness were more likely to have a positive attitude. CONCLUSION: Culturally relevant screening strategies should aim to increase knowledge of the symptoms and signs related to bowel cancer among South Asian ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. It is also important to find ways to increase the acceptability of screening among asymptomatic patients
Observing Pulsars with a Phased Array Feed at the Parkes Telescope
During February 2016, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science and the
Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy installed, commissioned and carried
out science observations with a phased array feed (PAF) receiver system on the
64m diameter Parkes radio telescope. Here we demonstrate that the PAF can be
used for pulsar observations and we highlight some unique capabilities. We
demonstrate that the pulse profiles obtained using the PAF can be calibrated
and that multiple pulsars can be simultaneously observed. Significantly, we
find that an intrinsic polarisation leakage of -31dB can be achieved with a PAF
beam offset from the centre of the field of view. We discuss the possibilities
for using a PAF for future pulsar observations and for searching for fast radio
bursts with the Parkes and Effelsberg telescopes.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. It has been accepted for publication
in PAS
An ASCA Study of the Heavy Element Distribution in Clusters of Galaxies
We perform a spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopic study of a set of 11
relaxed clusters of galaxies observed by the ROSAT/PSPC and ASCA/SIS. Using a
method which corrects for the energy dependent effects of the ASCA PSF based on
ROSAT images, we constrain the spatial distribution of Ne, Si, S and Fe in each
cluster. Theoretical prescriptions for the chemical yields of Type Ia and II
supernovae, then allow determination of the Fe enrichment from both types of
supernovae as a function of radius within each cluster. Using optical
measurements from the literature, we also determine the iron mass-to-light
ratio (IMLR) separately for Fe synthesized in both types of supernovae. For
clusters with the best photon statistics, we find that the total Fe abundance
decreases significantly with radius, while the Si abundance is either flat or
decreases less rapidly, resulting in an increasing Si/Fe ratio with radius.
This result indicates a greater predominance of Type II SNe enrichment at large
radii in clusters. We suggest that the high Si/Fe ratios in the outskirts of
rich clusters may arise from enrichment by Type II SNe released to ICM via
galactic star burst driven winds. Abridged.Comment: 17 pages, ApJ in press (Nov. 2000), a study of systematics is adde
Improving longitudinal research in geospatial health: An agenda
All aspects of public health research require longitudinal analyses to fully capture the dynamics of outcomes and risk factors such as ageing, human mobility, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), climate change, and endemic, emerging, and re-emerging infectious diseases. Studies in geospatial health are often limited to spatial and temporal cross sections. This generates uncertainty in the exposures and behavior of study populations. We discuss a research agenda, including key challenges and opportunities of working with longitudinal geospatial health data. Examples include accounting for residential and human mobility, recruiting new birth cohorts, geoimputation, international and interdisciplinary collaborations, spatial lifecourse studies, and qualitative and mixed-methods approaches
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