XMM-Newton observation of the interacting galaxies NGC1512 and NGC1510

The galaxy NGC1512 is interacting with the smaller galaxy NGC1510 and shows a peculiar morphology, characterised by two extended arms immersed in an HI disc whose size is about four times larger than the optical diameter of NGC1512. For the first time we performed a deep X-ray observation of the galaxies NGC1512 and NGC1510 with XMM-Newton to gain information on the population of X-ray sources and diffuse emission in a system of interacting galaxies. We identified and classified the sources detected in the XMM-Newton field of view by means of spectral analysis, hardness-ratios calculated with a Bayesian method, X-ray variability, and cross-correlations with catalogues in optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. We also made use of archival Swift (X-ray) and Australia Telescope Compact Array (radio) data to better constrain the nature of the sources detected with XMM-Newton. We detected 106 sources in the energy range of 0.2-12 keV, out of which 15 are located within the D_25 regions of NGC1512 and NGC1510 and at least six sources coincide with the extended arms. We identified and classified six background objects and six foreground stars. We discussed the nature of a source within the D_25 ellipse of NGC1512, whose properties indicate a quasi-stellar object or an intermediate ultra-luminous X-ray source. Taking into account the contribution of low-mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, the number of high-mass X-ray binaries detected within the D_25 region of NGC1512 is consistent with the star formation rate obtained in previous works based on radio, infrared optical, and UV wavelengths. We detected diffuse X-ray emission from the interior region of NGC1512 with a plasma temperature of kT=0.68(0.31-0.87) keV and a 0.3-10 keV X-ray luminosity of 1.3E38 erg/s, after correcting for unresolved discrete sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 20 pages. Appendix B will be published electronically onl

XMM-Newton study of 30 Dor C and a newly identified MCSNR J0536-6913 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Aims: We present a study of the superbubble (SB) 30 Dor C and the newly identified MCSNR J0536-6913 in the LMC. Methods: All available XMM-Newton data (exposure times of 420 ks EPIC-pn, 556 ks EPIC-MOS1, 614 ks EPIC-MOS2) were used to characterise the thermal X-ray emission in the region. An analysis of the non-thermal X-rays is also presented and discussed in the context of emission mechanisms previously suggested in the literature. These data are supplemented by X-ray data from Chandra, optical data from the MCELS, and radio data from ATCA and MOST. Results: The brightest thermal emission was found to be associated with a new supernova remnant, MCSNR J0536-6913. X-ray spectral analysis of MCSNR J0536-6913 suggested an ejecta-dominated remnant with lines of O, Ne, Mg, and Si, and a total 0.3-10 keV luminosity of ~8E+34 erg/s. Based on derived ejecta abundance ratios, we determined the mass of the stellar progenitor to be either ~18 M_sun or as high as >40 M_sun, though the spectral fits were subject to assumptions (e.g., uniform temperature and well-mixed ejecta). The thermal emission from the SB exhibited enrichment by alpha-process elements, evidence for a recent core-collapse SNR interaction with the SB shell. We detected non-thermal X-ray emission throughout 30 Dor C, with the brightest regions being highly correlated with the H-alpha and radio shells. We created a non-thermal spectral energy distribution for the north-eastern shell of 30 Dor C which was best-fit with an exponentially cut-off synchrotron model. Conclusions: Thermal X-ray emission from 30 Dor C is very complex, consisting of a large scale SB emission at the eastern shell wall with the brightest emission due to MCSNR J0536-6913. The fact that the non-thermal spectral energy distribution of the SB shell was observed to roll-off is further evidence that the non-thermal X-rays from 30 Dor C are synchrotron in origin.Comment: 22 pages, 21 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Fatigue detection using computer vision

Long duration driving is a significant cause of fatigue related accidents of cars, airplanes, trains and other means of transport. This paper presents a design of a detection system which can be used to detect fatigue in drivers. The system is based on computer vision with main focus on eye blink rate. We propose an algorithm for eye detection that is conducted through a process of extracting the face image from the video image followed by evaluating the eye region and then eventually detecting the iris of the eye using the binary image. The advantage of this system is that the algorithm works without any constraint of the background as the face is detected using a skin segmentation technique. The detection performance of this system was tested using video images which were recorded under laboratory conditions. The applicability of the system is discussed in light of fatigue detection for drivers

Tracking ground state Ba+ ions in an expanding laser–plasma plume using time-resolved vacuum ultraviolet photoionization imaging

We report results from a study of the integrated column density and expansion dynamics of ground-state-selected Ba+ ions in a laser–plasma plume using a new experimental system—VPIF (vacuum-ultraviolet photoabsorption imaging facility). The ions are tracked by recording the attenuation of a pulsed and collimated vacuum ultraviolet beam, tuned to the 5p–6d inner-shell resonance of singly ionized barium, as the expanding plasma plume moves across it. The attenuated beam is allowed to fall on a CCD array where the spatial distribution of the absorption is recorded. Time-resolved ion velocity and integrated column density maps are readily extracted from the photoionization images

Reporter\u27s Occupation and Source of Adverse Device Event Reports Contained in the FDA\u27s MAUDE Database

Introduction: A review of the medical device adverse events submitted to the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database was undertaken to determine the major sources of the information. Methods: The reporter’s occupation and source of the medical device report were determined for acquisition dates Jan 1, 1997 to Dec 31, 2018. A total of 7,766,737 adverse event records were analyzed. Results: 96.6% of reports originated with the manufacturer. Patients (patients/family/friend) were the most frequent submitter of reports directly to the FDA, almost five times as often as physicians. Nurses submitted reports directly to the FDA 2.77 times as often as physicians. Only 0.49% of physician reports were submitted directly to the FDA, representing 0.09% of total MAUDE reports. Conclusion: Increasing physician reporting directly to the FDA and MAUDE through the MedWatch reporting system is an imperative. Incorporating information from the perspective of the physician has the potential of increasing the quality of the data and improving the reliability of post-market surveillance

Strain Relaxation in Compositionally Graded InGaAs/GaAs Heterostructures

Epilayer strain relaxation in the InGaAs/GaAs system occurs via two mechanisms, plastic deformation and/or surface roughening. Under conditions of two-dimensional growth, we find that compositionally graded InGaAs/GaAs (001) multi-layer buffer structures will plastically deform with \u3c 110 \u3e misfit dislocations approaching 100% strain relaxation. At higher growth temperatures, large-amplitude roughening is observed preferentially along the [110] direction, and the strain relaxation becomes asymmetric in the \u3c 110 \u3e directions. In single epilayers, the symmetry of the strain relaxation is dependent on the magnitude of the substrate offcut angle. In all cases, the epilayers develop a tilt about an in-plane axis in proportion to and opposite in direction to the substrate offcut. With roughening, there is also a change in the orientation of the tilt axis such that only the dislocations with [110] line directions develop a preferred tilt component. These results illustrate the importance of surface steps and morphologies to strain relaxation and perhaps offer clues to the identification of the dislocation formation mechanisms at these interfaces

Constraining ^(26)Al+p resonances using ^(26)Al(^3He,d)^(27)Si

The ^(26)Al(^3He,d)^(27)Si reaction was measured from 0°≤θ_(c.m.)≤35° at E(^3He)=20 MeV using a quadrupole-dipole-dipole-dipole magnetic spectrometer. States in ^(27)Si were observed above the background at 7652 and 7741 keV and upper limits were set for the state at 7592 keV. Implications for the ^(26)Al(p,γ)^(27)Si stellar reaction rate are discussed

Evaluation and Refinement of the French Protein System (PDI) under Irish Conditions

End of Project ReportThe CP and DM degradability of grazed grass (between April and October, inclusive) and grass silage samples (differing in cut number and treatment) was determined using the in situ technique and the results obtained were used to calculate the PDIE and PDIN values. The degradability data on 12 concentrate ingredients from a previous study (Woods, 2000) were used to estimate PDIE and PDIN values for these feedstuffs. The mean PDIE and PDIN values determined for grass were 81 g/kg and 127 g/kg DM, respectively and for grass silage were 60 g/kg and 94 g/kg DM. Regression analysis resulted in equations to predict the PDIN of samples of grazed grass (PDIN = 3.8 + 0.628 CP) (R²= 0.999) and grass silage (PDIN = 5.9 + 0.605 CP) (R²= 0.997), and the PDIE of grazed grass (PDIE = 181.4 - 0.104 NDF - 0.195 ash - 0.047 OMD) (R²= 0.987) and grass silage (PDIE = 27.7 + 0.083 DMD - 0.147 CP) (R²= 0.812). The PDIE and PDIN values of 11 of the 12 concentrate ingredients were similar to those used in the French Tables but the maize distillers’ grains in this study and those used in France would appear to be quite different products. The response to PDIE and PDIN in the diet of lactating cows was evaluated and the effect of better balancing the PDIE and PDIN supply on the efficiency of N utilisation was assessed. Twenty autumn calving cows were blocked in a complete Latin Square design and assigned to four different diets varying in PDIN and PDIE content. Each of the four treatments consisted of a concentrate, maize silage and grass silage in the proportions 37:38:25 on a DM basis. There were 4 periods of 4-week duration each. Diet A contained 92 g/kg DM of PDIE and 116 g/kg DM of PDIN. Diet B contained 103 g/kg DM of PDIE and 122 g/kg DM of PDIN. Diet C and D over supplied PDIN at 137 g/kg and 153 g/kg, respectively relative to PDIE at 111 g/kg DM. Dry matter intake increased significantly with the excess dietary PDIN relative to PDIE but there were no significant differences in milk yield and composition. Decreasing the supply of PDIE in the diet (i.e. diet A vs. B) resulted in no significant effect on milk or constituent yields but did significantly reduce the efficiency (kg milk / kg DMI) of milk production. There was also a significant reduction in the efficiency of milk produced per kg DMI with increasing dietary concentrations of PDIN and increasing PDIN: PDIE balance (B>C>D). Increasing the dietary PDIN from 122 to 153 g/kg DMI increased urine N (+54%), faecal N (+11%) and plasma urea concentrations (+75%). The results indicate that the optimum concentration of dietary PDI is approximately 103 g/kg DM for cows producing about 35 kg of milk per day. A better balance between PDIE and PDIN supply improves the efficiency of conversion of DM to milk and dietary protein

Syndromic surveillance to assess the potential public health impact of the Icelandic volcanic ash plume across the United Kingdom, April 2010

The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted on 14 April 2010 emitting a volcanic ash plume that spread across the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. The Health Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland used existing syndromic surveillance systems to monitor community health during the incident: there were no particularly unusual increases in any of the monitored conditions. This incident has again demonstrated the use of syndromic surveillance systems for monitoring community health in real time