Search for Tensor, Vector, and Scalar Polarizations in the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background

The detection of gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo has enabled novel tests of general relativity, including direct study of the polarization of gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for only two tensor gravitational-wave polarizations, general metric theories can additionally predict two vector and two scalar polarizations. The polarization of gravitational waves is encoded in the spectral shape of the stochastic gravitational-wave background, formed by the superposition of cosmological and individually unresolved astrophysical sources. Using data recorded by Advanced LIGO during its first observing run, we search for a stochastic background of generically polarized gravitational waves. We find no evidence for a background of any polarization, and place the first direct bounds on the contributions of vector and scalar polarizations to the stochastic background. Under log-uniform priors for the energy in each polarization, we limit the energy densities of tensor, vector, and scalar modes at 95% credibility to Ω0T<5.58×10-8, Ω0V<6.35×10-8, and Ω0S<1.08×10-7 at a reference frequency f0=25 Hz. © 2018 American Physical Society

On the progenitor of binary neutron star merger GW170817

On 2017 August 17 the merger of two compact objects with masses consistent with two neutron stars was discovered through gravitational-wave (GW170817), gamma-ray (GRB 170817A), and optical (SSS17a/AT 2017gfo) observations. The optical source was associated with the early-type galaxy NGC 4993 at a distance of just ∼40 Mpc, consistent with the gravitational-wave measurement, and the merger was localized to be at a projected distance of ∼2 kpc away from the galaxy's center. We use this minimal set of facts and the mass posteriors of the two neutron stars to derive the first constraints on the progenitor of GW170817 at the time of the second supernova (SN). We generate simulated progenitor populations and follow the three-dimensional kinematic evolution from binary neutron star (BNS) birth to the merger time, accounting for pre-SN galactic motion, for considerably different input distributions of the progenitor mass, pre-SN semimajor axis, and SN-kick velocity. Though not considerably tight, we find these constraints to be comparable to those for Galactic BNS progenitors. The derived constraints are very strongly influenced by the requirement of keeping the binary bound after the second SN and having the merger occur relatively close to the center of the galaxy. These constraints are insensitive to the galaxy's star formation history, provided the stellar populations are older than 1 Gyr

Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the first Advanced LIGO observing run

Cosmic strings are topological defects which can be formed in grand unified theory scale phase transitions in the early universe. They are also predicted to form in the context of string theory. The main mechanism for a network of Nambu-Goto cosmic strings to lose energy is through the production of loops and the subsequent emission of gravitational waves, thus offering an experimental signature for the existence of cosmic strings. Here we report on the analysis conducted to specifically search for gravitational-wave bursts from cosmic string loops in the data of Advanced LIGO 2015-2016 observing run (O1). No evidence of such signals was found in the data, and as a result we set upper limits on the cosmic string parameters for three recent loop distribution models. In this paper, we initially derive constraints on the string tension Gμ and the intercommutation probability, using not only the burst analysis performed on the O1 data set but also results from the previously published LIGO stochastic O1 analysis, pulsar timing arrays, cosmic microwave background and big-bang nucleosynthesis experiments. We show that these data sets are complementary in that they probe gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loops during very different epochs. Finally, we show that the data sets exclude large parts of the parameter space of the three loop distribution models we consider

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Variações florística e estrutural e relações fitogeográficas de um fragmento de floresta decídua no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil Floristic and structural variations, and the phytogeographical relationships of a deciduous forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

O trabalho foi realizado num fragmento de floresta decídua com cerca de 270ha centrado em 5°53'S e 35°23'W e que se estende por dois ambientes edáficos distintos (Moda 1 e Moda 2). Os objetivos do trabalho foram caracterizar florística e estruturalmente o componente arbóreo nos dois ambientes, compará-los entre si e avaliar suas relações fitogeográficas. Todos os indivíduos vivos e mortos em pé com perímetro à altura do peito >10cm foram considerados como árvore e amostrados pelo método dos quadrantes. Para Moda 1 e Moda 2 foram estimados, respectivamente: densidade total de 1.587 e de 1.924 indivíduos.ha-1, área basal total de 15,88 e de 15,86m².ha-¹, freqüências modais das alturas entre 5 e 5,9m e entre 6 e 6,9m e dos diâmetros de caule entre 5,0 e 9,9cm e entre 3,2 e 4,9cm, índice de diversidade de Shannon de 3,19 e de 3,26 e índice de eqüabilidade de Pielou de 0,79 e de 0,86. Os estratos arbóreos nos dois ambientes foram considerados estruturalmente semelhantes. Foram observadas no total 66 espécies de árvores, sendo 56 em Moda 1 e 45 em Moda 2. Piptadenia moniliformis Benth. é a espécie com maior valor de importância nas duas áreas, seguidas por Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl. em Moda 1 e por Chamaecrista ensiformis (Vell.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby em Moda 2. As áreas apresentam grande similaridade florística (S S = 0,69 e S C = 0,53), sendo que as espécies características de matas decíduas são mais abundantes em ou exclusivas de Moda 1, e as espécies características das Caatingas, em Moda 2. As pequenas diferenças florística e estrutural entre os dois setores da mata podem ser atribuídas às condições edáficas. Em termos florísticos, fisionômicos e ambientais, a mata foi classificada como um tipo de vegetação de transição entre as províncias fitogeográficas Atlântica e das Caatingas, com a presença destacada de espécies com ampla distribuição nas matas secas neotropicais e nos Cerrados.<br>This work was undertaken in a deciduous forest fragment (~270 ha, centered on 5°53'S and 35°23'W) spanning two distinct edaphic environments (Areas 1and 2), and sought to floristically and structurally characterize the tree layers in both environments, as well as to assess their phytogeographical relationships. All living and standing dead trees with CBH >10 cm were sampled using the point-centered quarter method. The results for areas 1and 2 were, respectively: total density, 1.587 and 1.924 individual.ha-1; total basal area, 15.88 and 15.86m².ha-1; most frequent height classes of living trees, 5-5.9m and 6-6.9m; most frequent stem diameters of living trees, 5.09.9cm and 3.2-4.9cm; Shannon diversity index 3.19 and 3.26; and Pielou evenness index, 0.79 and 0.86. The tree layers in both areas 1 and 2 were considered structurally similar. A total of 66 tree species were observed (56 in area 1 and 45 in area 2). Piptadenia moniliformis Benth. showed the greatest importance value in both areas, followed by Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl. in area 1, and Chamaecrista ensiformis (Vell.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby in area 2. Both edaphic environments showed a high floristic similarity (S S = 0.69 and S C = 0.53).Species typical of deciduous forests were more abundant in, or exclusive to, area 1. Species more typical of Caatingas environments were more abundant in, or exclusive to, area 2. The small floristic and structural differences noted between the two areas are apparently attributable to soil conditions. This forest fragment contains many species showing wide distributions in both Neotropical dry forests and Cerrados, and was considered a transitional vegetation type between the Atlantic and Caatingas phytogeographical provinces, in terms of species composition and physiognomy, as well as local environment conditions

Loads for use in the design of ships and offshore structures

10.1016/j.oceaneng.2013.09.012Ocean Engineering78131-17