Analytic Approximations for Transit Light Curve Observables, Uncertainties, and Covariances

The light curve of an exoplanetary transit can be used to estimate the planetary radius and other parameters of interest. Because accurate parameter estimation is a non-analytic and computationally intensive problem, it is often useful to have analytic approximations for the parameters as well as their uncertainties and covariances. Here we give such formulas, for the case of an exoplanet transiting a star with a uniform brightness distribution. We also assess the advantages of some relatively uncorrelated parameter sets for fitting actual data. When limb darkening is significant, our parameter sets are still useful, although our analytic formulas underpredict the covariances and uncertainties.Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure

Exoplanet Detection Techniques

We are still in the early days of exoplanet discovery. Astronomers are beginning to model the atmospheres and interiors of exoplanets and have developed a deeper understanding of processes of planet formation and evolution. However, we have yet to map out the full complexity of multi-planet architectures or to detect Earth analogues around nearby stars. Reaching these ambitious goals will require further improvements in instrumentation and new analysis tools. In this chapter, we provide an overview of five observational techniques that are currently employed in the detection of exoplanets: optical and IR Doppler measurements, transit photometry, direct imaging, microlensing, and astrometry. We provide a basic description of how each of these techniques works and discuss forefront developments that will result in new discoveries. We also highlight the observational limitations and synergies of each method and their connections to future space missions.Comment: 24 pages, 19 figures, PPVI proceedings. Appears as 2014, Protostars and Planets VI, Henrik Beuther, Ralf S. Klessen, Cornelis P. Dullemond, and Thomas Henning (eds.), University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 914 pp., p.715-73

Characterisation of uncertainties in costing for availability contracts

There is an emerging trend of offering combined products and services to customers as integrated solutions. These are implemented by contracts such as availability contracts. Uncertainties may arise due to the novelty of the process of designing and managing such offerings, prediction of equipment failure and multiple stakeholders involvement in addition to the long-term nature of the contract. Understanding through-life uncertainties and their impact on cost is critical to ensure sustainability and profitability of the companies offering such solutions. The focus of this paper is to (i) evaluate existing uncertainty classifications and (ii) propose essential considerations for characterising the uncertainties in availability contracts. Appropriate classification of uncertainties should improve the quality of cost estimation by stimulating an understanding and awareness of uncertainties and their characteristics

Microplastic Contamination of Three Commonly Consumed Seafood Species from Taiwan: A Pilot Study

Microplastics have already been detected in various human foods, especially seafood. This problem should be especially pertinent to the Taiwanese public because a relatively high proportion of people’s diet comes from seafood. Therefore, a pilot study of microplastic contamination of seafood products commonly consumed by Taiwanese people is presented. Six batches of three seafood species were examined for the presence of microplastics using FTIR spectroscopy. A total of 107 seafood individuals from three species (hard clam Meretrix lusoria, oyster Crassostrea gigas, Loligo squid Loliginidae spp.) weighing a total of 994 g yielded a total of 100 microplastic particles consisting of nine different polymer types. The most common polymer types were polypropylene, poly(ethylene:propylene:diene), and polyethylene terephthalate; we also detected six additional, but less common polymer types. A total of 91% of microplastic particles were fragments that likely originated from fragmented plastic debris which was then consumed by the seafood species; the remaining particles were fibers and a pellet. The mean number of microplastics kg−1 was 87.9 microplastics kg−1 across the three examined species. Given that the Taiwanese public average about 10 kg of seafood consumption per year, a few thousand microplastic particles are estimated to be annually consumed on average. The methodology of this pilot study can now be used to conduct examinations of more seafood species and samples

Subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty acid desaturation in adults with and without rare adipose disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity has been described in obese states, with an increased desaturation index (DI) suggesting enhanced lipogenesis. Differences in the DI among various phenotypes of abnormal adiposity have not been studied. Abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue occurs in rare adipose disorders (RADs) including Dercum's disease (DD), multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL), and familial multiple lipomatosis (FML). Examining the DI in subcutaneous fat of people with DD, MSL and FML may provide information on adipose tissue fatty acid metabolism in these disorders. The aims of this pilot study were: 1) to determine if differences in adipose tissue DIs are present among RADs, and 2) to determine if the DIs correlate to clinical or biochemical parameters.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from human participants with DD (n = 6), MSL (n = 5), FML (n = 8) and obese Controls (n = 6). Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The DIs (palmitoleic/palmitic, oleic/stearic, vaccenic/stearic ratios) were calculated from the gas chromatogram peak intensities. SCD1 gene expression was determined. Spearman's correlations between the DIs and available clinical or biochemical data were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In DD subjects, the vaccenic/stearic index was lower (<it>p </it>< 0.05) in comparison to Controls. Percent of total of the saturated fatty acid myristic acid was higher in DD compared with Controls and FML. Percent of monounsaturated vaccenic acid in DD trended lower when compared with Controls, and was decreased in comparison to FML. In MSL, total percent of the polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly lower than in the Control group (<it>p </it>< 0.05). In the total cohort of subjects, the palmitoleic/palmitic and oleic/stearic DIs positively correlated with age, BMI, and percent body fat.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The positive associations between the DIs and measures of adiposity (BMI and percent body fat) support increased desaturase activity in obesity. The lower vaccenic/stearic DI in DD SAT compared with Controls suggests presence of other factors involved in fat accumulation in addition to lifestyle. Other mechanisms driving fat accumulation in DD such as inflammation or lymphatic dysfunction should be investigated.</p

Iatrogenic Critical Care Procedure Complication Boot Camp: A Simulation‐Based Pilot Study

Background Traditional medical education strategies teach learners how to correctly perform procedures while neglecting to provide formal training on iatrogenic error management. Error management training (EMT) requires active exploration as well as explicit encouragement for learners to make and learn from errors during training. Simulation provides an excellent methodology to execute a curriculum on iatrogenic procedural complication management. We hypothesize that a standardized simulation‐based EMT curriculum will improve learner's confidence, cognitive knowledge, and performance in iatrogenic injury management. Methods This was a pilot, prospective, observational study performed in a simulation center using a curriculum developed to educate resident physicians on iatrogenic procedural complication management. Pre‐ and post‐intervention assessments included confidence surveys, cognitive questionnaires, and critical action checklists for six simulated procedure complications. Assessment data were analyzed using medians, interquartile ranges, and the paired change scores were tested for median equality to zero via Wilcoxon signed rank tests with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Eighteen residents participated in the study curriculum. The median confidence increased significantly by a summed score of 12.5 (8.75 –17.25) (p<0.001). Similarly, the median knowledge significantly increased by 6 points (3 –8) from the pre‐ to post‐intervention assessment (p<0.001). For each of the simulation cases, the number of critical actions performed increased significantly (p<0.001 to p=0.002). Conclusion We demonstrated significant improvement in the confidence, clinical knowledge, and performance of critical actions after the completion of this curriculum. This pilot study provides evidence that a structured EMT curriculum is an effective method to teach management of iatrogenic injuries

Risk of second primary tumors in men diagnosed with prostate cancer: A population‐based cohort study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/108272/1/cncr28769.pd

Search full text options here 2 of 4 KMT-2021-BLG-0912Lb: a microlensing super Earth around a K-type star

Aims. The light curve of the microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-0912 exhibits a very short anomaly relative to a single-lens single-source form. We investigate the light curve for the purpose of identifying the origin of the anomaly. Methods. We model the light curve under various interpretations. From this, we find four solutions, in which three solutions are found under the assumption that the lens is composed of two masses (2L1S models), and the other solution is found under the assumption that the source is comprised of binary stars (1L2S model). The 1L2S model is ruled out based on the contradiction that the faint source companion is bigger than its primary, and one of the 2L1S solutions is excluded from the combination of the poorer fit, blending constraint, and lower overall probability, leaving two surviving solutions with the planet/host mass ratios of q similar to 2.8 x 10(-5) and similar to 1.1 x 10(-5). A subtle central deviation supports the possibility of a tertiary lens component, either a binary companion to the host with a very large or small separation, or a second planet lying near the Einstein ring, but it is difficult to claim a secure detection due to the marginal improvement of the fit, lack of consistency among different data sets, and difficulty in uniquely specifying the nature of the tertiary component. Results. With the observables of the event, it is estimated that the masses of the planet and host are similar to(6.9 M-circle plus, 0.75 M-circle dot) according to one solution and similar to(2.8 M-circle plus, 0.80 M-circle dot) according to the other, indicating that the planet is a super Earth around a K-type star, regardless of the solution. The fact that 16 (including the one reported in this work) out of 19 microlensing planets with M less than or similar to 10 M-circle plus were detected during the last 6 yr nicely demonstrates the importance of high-cadence global surveys in detecting very low-mass planets

Portraying the hosts: Stellar science from planet searches

Information on the full session can be found on this website: https://sites.google.com/site/portrayingthehostscs18/We present a compendium of the splinter session on stellar science from planet searches that was organized as part of the Cool Stars 18 conference. Seven speakers discussed techniques to infer stellar information from radial velocity, transit and microlensing data, as well as new instrumentation and missions designed for planet searches that will provide useful for the study of the cool stars

Elevated glutamatergic compounds in pregenual anterior cingulate in pediatric autism spectrum disorder demonstrated by 1H MRS and 1H MRSI.

Recent research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has aroused interest in anterior cingulate cortex and in the neurometabolite glutamate. We report two studies of pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) in pediatric ASD. First, we acquired in vivo single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) in 8 children with ASD and 10 typically developing controls who were well matched for age, but with fewer males and higher IQ. In the ASD group in midline pACC, we found mean 17.7% elevation of glutamate + glutamine (Glx) (p&lt;0.05) and 21.2% (p&lt;0.001) decrement in creatine + phosphocreatine (Cr). We then performed a larger (26 subjects with ASD, 16 controls) follow-up study in samples now matched for age, gender, and IQ using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H MRSI). Higher spatial resolution enabled bilateral pACC acquisition. Significant effects were restricted to right pACC where Glx (9.5%, p&lt;0.05), Cr (6.7%, p&lt;0.05), and N-acetyl-aspartate + N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (10.2%, p&lt;0.01) in the ASD sample were elevated above control. These two independent studies suggest hyperglutamatergia and other neurometabolic abnormalities in pACC in ASD, with possible right-lateralization. The hyperglutamatergic state may reflect an imbalance of excitation over inhibition in the brain as proposed in recent neurodevelopmental models of ASD