Search for AGN counterparts of unidentified Fermi-LAT sources with optical polarimetry: Demonstration of the technique

The third Fermi-LAT catalog (3FGL) presented the data of the first four years of observations from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission. There are 3034 sources, 1010 of which still remain unidentified. Identifying and classifying gamma-ray emitters is of high significance with regard to studying high-energy astrophysics. We demonstrate that optical polarimetry can be an advantageous and practical tool in the hunt for counterparts of the unidentified gamma-ray sources (UGSs). Using data from the RoboPol project, we validated that a significant fraction of active galactic nuclei (AGN) associated with 3FGL sources can be identified due to their high optical polarization exceeding that of the field stars. We performed an optical polarimetric survey within $3\sigma$ uncertainties of four unidentified 3FGL sources. We discovered a previously unknown extragalactic object within the positional uncertainty of 3FGL J0221.2+2518. We obtained its spectrum and measured a redshift of $z=0.0609\pm0.0004$. Using these measurements and archival data we demonstrate that this source is a candidate counterpart for 3FGL J0221.2+2518 and most probably is a composite object: a star-forming galaxy accompanied by AGN. We conclude that polarimetry can be a powerful asset in the search for AGN candidate counterparts for unidentified Fermi sources. Future extensive polarimetric surveys at high galactic latitudes (e.g., PASIPHAE) will allow the association of a significant fraction of currently unidentified gamma-ray sources.Comment: accepted to A&

Wound Healing Process After Thermomechanical Skin Ablation

Background and Objectives: Energy-based devices have been widely applied for skin ablation. A novel ablation technique based on thermomechanical principles (Tixel©) has been recently developed. The aim of this study was to examine the wound-healing process and clinical aspects after thermomechanical skin ablation. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Six female participants were treated with Tixel© on healthy skin of the dorsal side of the right forearm in a single session with a 600 µm protrusion and 12 milliseconds pulse. The treated area was examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy on day 1, 2, 7, and 14 after treatment. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at the same time-points. Results: All patients developed erythema and mild edema on the treated areas, which completely disappeared within 14 days. No post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring was observed. Thermomechanical skin ablation resulted in the formation of homogeneous micro-ablation zones. Two weeks after ablation, the honeycomb patterns of the epidermis in all examined layers was thoroughly restored. Thus, wound-healing was completed. Conclusions: Wound healing after thermomechanical skin ablation is much faster compared with other fractionated ablation methods. Treatment intervals of 2–4 weeks could be recommended

RoboPol: AGN polarimetric monitoring data

We present uniformly reprocessed and re-calibrated data from the RoboPol programme of optopolarimetric monitoring of active galactic nuclei (AGN), covering observations between 2013, when the instrument was commissioned, and 2017. In total, the dataset presented in this paper includes 5068 observations of 222 AGN with Dec > -25 deg. We describe the current version of the RoboPol pipeline that was used to process and calibrate the entire dataset, and we make the data publicly available for use by the astronomical community. Average quantities summarising optopolarimetric behaviour (average degree of polarization, polarization variability index) are also provided for each source we have observed and for the time interval we have followed it.Comment: Accepted to MNRA

Unmet clinical needs and burden of disease in hidradenitis suppurativa: real-world experience from EU5 and US

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, debilitating skin disease characterized by painful deep lesions and associated with substantial disease burden. Objectives The objective of this study was to describe physician- and patient-reported clinical unmet needs from a real-world perspective. Methods This study used data from the Adelphi HS Disease Specific Programme, a point-in-time survey of dermatologists and their patients with HS in Europe and the United States. Dermatologists completed patient record forms (PRFs) for 5–7 consecutively consulting patients with HS; patients or carers of patients also optionally completed a patient/carer self-completion questionnaire (PSC/CSC). Data collection included demographics, symptomatology and impact on quality of life (QoL). Results Dermatologists (N = 312) completed PRFs for 1787 patients with HS; patient- and carer-reported questionnaires (PSC/CSC) were completed for 33.1% (591/1787) of patients. The mean age was 34.4 ± 12.2 years and 57.6% of patients were female (1029/1787). Physician-judged disease severity at sampling was categorized as mild in 66.0% (1179/1787), moderate in 29.3% (523/1787) and severe in 4.7% (85/1787) of patients. Deterioration or unstable condition over the previous 12 months was described by 17.1% [235/1372] and 12.6% [41/325] of physician- and patient/carer-reported cases, respectively. Despite receiving treatment, high proportions of patients still experienced symptoms at sampling (general pain/discomfort [49.5%, 885/1787]; inflammation/redness of lesions/abscesses [46.1%, 823/1787] and itching [29.9%, 535/1787]); these symptoms were more frequent in patients with moderate or severe disease. Patients reported a mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score of 5.9 ± 5.4 (555/591; mild, 4.1 ± 4.3; moderate, 9.4 ± 5.4; severe, 13.3 ± 5.5) and a mean Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life score of 11.0 ± 10.6 (518/591; mild, 7.6 ± 8.3; moderate, 17.7 ± 10.0; severe, 31.0 ± 15.4) indicating a substantial impact on QoL. Conclusions Patients with HS experienced a high disease burden despite being actively treated by a dermatologist. This study demonstrates that the burden of HS disease is generally poorly managed with a considerable impact observed on patients' QoL

Concern for information privacy:a cross-nation study of the United Kingdom and South Africa

Individuals have differing levels of information privacy concern, formed by their expectations and the confidence they have that organisations meet this in practice. Variance in privacy laws and national factors may also play a role. This study analyses individuals’ information privacy expectation and confidence across two nations, the United Kingdom and South Africa, through a survey of 1463 respondents. The findings indicate that the expectation for privacy in both countries are very high. However, numerous significant differences exist between expectations and confidence when examining privacy principles. The overall results for both countries show that there is a gap in terms of the privacy expectations of respondents compared to the confidence they have in whether organisations are meeting their expectations. Governments, regulators, and organisations with an online presence need to consider individuals’ expectations and ensure that controls that meet regulatory requirements, as well as expectations, are in place

Search for AGN counterparts of unidentified Fermi-LAT sources with optical polarimetry Demonstration of the technique

Context. The third Fermi-LAT catalog (3FGL) presented the data of the first four years of observations from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission. There are 3034 sources, 1010 of which still remain unidentified. Identifying and classifying gamma-ray emitters is of high significance with regard to studying high-energy astrophysics.Aims. We demonstrate that optical polarimetry can be an advantageous and practical tool in the hunt for counterparts of the unidentified gamma-ray sources (UGSs).Methods. Using data from the RoboPol project, we validated that a significant fraction of active galactic nuclei (AGN) associated with 3FGL sources can be identified due to their high optical polarization exceeding that of the field stars. We performed an optical polarimetric survey within 3 sigma uncertainties of four unidentified 3FGL sources.Results. We discovered a previously unknown extragalactic object within the positional uncertainty of 3FGL J0221.2 + 2518. We obtained its spectrum and measured a redshift of z = 0.0609 +/- 0.0004. Using these measurements and archival data we demonstrate that this source is a candidate counterpart for 3FGL J0221.2 + 2518 and most probably is a composite object: a star-forming galaxy accompanied by AGN.Conclusions. We conclude that polarimetry can be a powerful asset in the search for AGN candidate counterparts for unidentified Fermi sources. Future extensive polarimetric surveys at high Galactic latitudes (e.g., PASIPHAE) will allow the association of a significant fraction of currently unidentified gamma-ray sources

Search for AGN counterparts of unidentified Fermi-LAT sources with optical polarimetry: Demonstration of the technique

Context. The third Fermi-LAT catalog (3FGL) presented the data of the first four years of observations from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission. There are 3034 sources, 1010 of which still remain unidentified. Identifying and classifying γ-ray emitters is of high significance with regard to studying high-energy astrophysics. Aims. We demonstrate that optical polarimetry can be an advantageous and practical tool in the hunt for counterparts of the unidentified γ-ray sources (UGSs). Methods. Using data from the RoboPol project, we validated that a significant fraction of active galactic nuclei (AGN) associated with 3FGL sources can be identified due to their high optical polarization exceeding that of the field stars. We performed an optical polarimetric survey within 3σ uncertainties of four unidentified 3FGL sources. Results. We discovered a previously unknown extragalactic object within the positional uncertainty of 3FGL J0221.2+2518. We obtained its spectrum and measured a redshift of z = 0.0609 ± 0.0004. Using these measurements and archival data we demonstrate that this source is a candidate counterpart for 3FGL J0221.2+2518 and most probably is a composite object: a star-forming galaxy accompanied by AGN. Conclusions. We conclude that polarimetry can be a powerful asset in the search for AGN candidate counterparts for unidentified Fermi sources. Future extensive polarimetric surveys at high Galactic latitudes (e.g., PASIPHAE) will allow the association of a significant fraction of currently unidentified γ-ray sources