54 research outputs found

    Soluble iron inputs to the Southern Ocean through recent andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic ash eruptions from the Patagonian Andes

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    Patagonia, due to its geographic position and the dominance of westerly winds, is a key area that contributes to the supply of nutrients to the Southern Ocean, both through mineral dust and through the periodic deposits of volcanic ash. Here we evaluate the characteristics of Fe dissolved (into soluble and colloidal species) from volcanic ash for three recent southern Andes volcanic eruptions having contrasting features and chemical compositions. Contact between cloud waters (wet deposition) and end-members of andesitic (Hudson volcano) and rhyolitic (Chaitén volcano) materials was simulated. Results indicate higher Fe release and faster liberation rates in the andesitic material. Fe release during particle-seawater interaction (dry deposition) has higher rates in rhyolitic-type ashes. Rhyolitic ashes under acidic conditions release Fe in higher amounts and at a slower rate, while in those samples containing mostly glass shards, Fe release was lower and faster. The 2011 Puyehue eruption was observed by a dust monitoring station. Puyehue-type eruptions can contribute soluble Fe to the ocean via dry or wet deposition, nearly reaching the limit required for phytoplankton growth. In contrast, the input of Fe after processing by an acidic eruption plume could raise the amount of dissolved Fe in surface ocean waters several times, above the threshold required to initiate phytoplankton blooms. A single eruption like the Puyehue one represents more than half of the yearly Fe flux contributed by dust.Instituto de Física La Plat

    Pilot optical alignment

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    PILOT (Polarized Instrument for Long wavelength Observations of the Tenuous interstellar medium) is a balloonborne astronomy experiment designed to study the polarization of dust emission in the diffuse interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The PILOT instrument allows observations at wavelengths 240 μm and 550 μm with an angular resolution of about two arcminutes. The observations performed during the two first flights performed from Timmins, Ontario Canada, and from Alice-springs, Australia, respectively in September 2015 and in April 2017 have demonstrated the good performances of the instrument. Pilot optics is composed of an off axis Gregorian type telescope combined with a refractive re-imager system. All optical elements, except the primary mirror, which is at ambient temperature, are inside a cryostat and cooled down to 3K. The whole optical system is aligned on ground at room temperature using dedicated means and procedures in order to keep the tight requirements on the focus position and ensure the instrument optical performances during the various phases of a flight. We’ll present the optical performances and the firsts results obtained during the two first flight campaigns. The talk describes the system analysis, the alignment methods, and finally the inflight performances

    PILOT: optical performance and end-to-end characterisation

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    PILOT (Polarized Instrument for the Long-wavelength Observations of the Tenuous ISM), is a balloon-borne astronomy experiment dedicated to study the polarization of dust emission from the diffuse ISM in our Galaxy [1]. The observations of PILOT have two major scientific objectives. Firstly, they will allow us to constrain the large-scale geometry of the magnetic field in our Galaxy and to study in details the alignment properties of dust grains with respect to the magnetic field. In this domain, the measurements of PILOT will complement those of the Planck satellite at longer wavelengths. In particular, they will bring information at a better angular resolution, which is critical in crowded regions such as the Galactic plane. They will allow us to better understand how the magnetic field is shaping the ISM material on large scale in molecular clouds, and the role it plays in the gravitational collapse leading to star formation. Secondly, the PILOT observations will allow us to measure for the first time the polarized dust emission towards the most diffuse regions of the sky, where the measurements are the most easily interpreted in terms of the physics of dust. In this particular domain, PILOT will play a role for future CMB missions similar to that played by the Archeops experiment for Planck. The results of PILOT will allow us to gain knowledge about the magnetic properties of dust grains and about the structure of the magnetic field in the diffuse ISM that is necessary to a precise foreground subtraction in future polarized CMB measurements. The PILOT measurements, combined with those of Planck at longer wavelengths, will therefore allow us to further constrain the dust models. The outcome of such studies will likely impact the instrumental and technical choices for the future space missions dedicated to CMB polarization. The PILOT instrument will allow observations in two photometric channels at wavelengths 240 μm and 550 μm, with an angular resolution of a few arcminutes. We will make use of large format bolometer arrays, developed for the PACS instrument on board the Herschel satellite. With 1024 detectors per photometric channel and photometric band optimized for the measurement of dust emission, PILOT is likely to become the most sensitive experiment for this type of measurements. The PILOT experiment will take advantage of the large gain in sensitivity allowed by the use of large format, filled bolometer arrays at frequencies more favorable to the detection of dust emission. This paper presents the optical design, optical characterization and its performance. We begin with a presentation of the instrument and the optical system and then we summarise the main optical tests performed. In section III, we present preliminary end-to-end test results

    PILOT: optical performance and end-to-end characterisation

    Get PDF
    PILOT (Polarized Instrument for the Long-wavelength Observations of the Tenuous ISM), is a balloon-borne astronomy experiment dedicated to study the polarization of dust emission from the diffuse ISM in our Galaxy [1]. The observations of PILOT have two major scientific objectives. Firstly, they will allow us to constrain the large-scale geometry of the magnetic field in our Galaxy and to study in details the alignment properties of dust grains with respect to the magnetic field. In this domain, the measurements of PILOT will complement those of the Planck satellite at longer wavelengths. In particular, they will bring information at a better angular resolution, which is critical in crowded regions such as the Galactic plane. They will allow us to better understand how the magnetic field is shaping the ISM material on large scale in molecular clouds, and the role it plays in the gravitational collapse leading to star formation. Secondly, the PILOT observations will allow us to measure for the first time the polarized dust emission towards the most diffuse regions of the sky, where the measurements are the most easily interpreted in terms of the physics of dust. In this particular domain, PILOT will play a role for future CMB missions similar to that played by the Archeops experiment for Planck. The results of PILOT will allow us to gain knowledge about the magnetic properties of dust grains and about the structure of the magnetic field in the diffuse ISM that is necessary to a precise foreground subtraction in future polarized CMB measurements. The PILOT measurements, combined with those of Planck at longer wavelengths, will therefore allow us to further constrain the dust models. The outcome of such studies will likely impact the instrumental and technical choices for the future space missions dedicated to CMB polarization. The PILOT instrument will allow observations in two photometric channels at wavelengths 240 μm and 550 μm, with an angular resolution of a few arcminutes. We will make use of large format bolometer arrays, developed for the PACS instrument on board the Herschel satellite. With 1024 detectors per photometric channel and photometric band optimized for the measurement of dust emission, PILOT is likely to become the most sensitive experiment for this type of measurements. The PILOT experiment will take advantage of the large gain in sensitivity allowed by the use of large format, filled bolometer arrays at frequencies more favorable to the detection of dust emission. This paper presents the optical design, optical characterization and its performance. We begin with a presentation of the instrument and the optical system and then we summarise the main optical tests performed. In section III, we present preliminary end-to-end test results

    Pilot optical alignment

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    PILOT (Polarized Instrument for Long wavelength Observations of the Tenuous interstellar medium) is a balloonborne astronomy experiment designed to study the polarization of dust emission in the diffuse interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The PILOT instrument allows observations at wavelengths 240 μm (1.2THz) with an angular resolution about two arc-minutes. The observations performed during the first flight in September 2015 at Timmins, Ontario Canada, have demonstrated the optical performances of the instrument

    The impact of a two-versus three-yearly cervical screening interval recommendation on cervical cancer incidence and mortality: An analysis of trends in Australia, New Zealand, and England

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    To assess the impact of cervical screening interval recommendations on cervical cancer incidence and mortality during periods of organized and opportunistic screening in Australia (2-yearly screening interval for organized screening), New Zealand (3 yearly interval for organized screening), and England (3/5 yearly interval for organized screening). Changes in cervical cancer rates over two 10-year periods were assessed in each country among women aged 20-69 years using a standardized rate ratio (SRR). The SRR for opportunistic screening was calculated from 1973-1977 to 1983-1987 (mortality only), and for organized screening from 1993-1997 to 2003-2007 (mortality and incidence). During the period of opportunistic cervical screening, mortality reduced by 24 % in Australia and 10 % in England and Wales [Australia: SRR 0.76 (95 % CI 0.71-0.83); England and Wales: SRR 0.90 (95 % CI 0.87-0.93)]; no statistically significant reduction was observed in New Zealand [SRR 0.95 (95 % CI 0.82-1.11)]. After the introduction of organized screening, mortality reduced 39-45 % in each country [Australia: SRR 0.56 (95 % CI 0.51-0.62); New Zealand: SRR 0.53 (95 % CI 0.44-0.63); England and Wales: SRR 0.61 (95 % CI 0.58-0.64)], while incidence reduced 19-38 % [New Zealand: SRR 0.62 (95 % CI 0.56-0.69); Australia: SRR 0.64 (95 % CI 0.61-0.72); England: SRR 0.81 (95 % CI 0.78-0.83)]. In the era of opportunistic screening, some reductions were observed in cervical cancer mortality rates, but these were relatively modest and seen inconsistently between countries. After the introduction of organized cervical screening, cervical cancer mortality rates fell by a similar amount (~40 % or more) in all countries, and incidence fell by more than a third in Australia and New Zealand and by approximately one-fifth in England. Although several factors are likely to have influenced these observed reductions in cervical cancer rates, these findings do not support the more frequent 2-yearly cervical screening interval recommendation in Australia. The impact of a two-versus three-yearly cervical screening interval... | Request PDF. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247157726_The_impact_of_a_two-versus_three-yearly_cervical_screening_interval_recommendation_on_cervical_cancer_incidence_and_mortality_An_analysis_of_trends_in_Australia_New_Zealand_and_England [accessed Feb 14 2018]

    Development of a quality framework for models of cervical screening and its application to evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination in developed countries.

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    BACKGROUND: HPV vaccination has now been introduced in most developed countries, but this has occurred in the context of established cervical cancer screening mechanisms which provide population-level protection against the most common HPV-related cancer. Therefore, estimating the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination to further reduce HPV-related disease depends in large part on the estimation of the effectiveness of the cervical screening 'background'. The aim of this study was to systematically review and assess methods for simulating cervical screening in decision analytic models used for evaluation of HPV vaccination. METHODS: Existing quality frameworks for economic models were extended to develop a specific quality framework for models of cervical screening. This involved domains for model structure, parameterisation (data sources) and validation (consistency). A systematic review of economic evaluations of HPV vaccination was then conducted, and assessment of cervical screening model components was then performed via application of the new quality framework. RESULTS: Generally, models took into account population-level cervical screening participation, but were inconsistent in their approach to modelling abnormal smear management, diagnostic evaluation and treatment of precancerous disease. There was also considerable variability in the accuracy of modelling clinical pathways and the scope of validation performed for screening-related outcomes, with focus directed towards cervical cancer targets. Only a few models comprehensively validated against observed pre-cancerous abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Models of HPV vaccination in developed countries can be improved by further attention to the 'background' modelling of secondary protection via cervical screening. The quality framework developed for this review can be used to inform future HPV vaccination evaluations, including evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of male vaccination and next generation HPV vaccines, and to assess models used to evaluate new cervical screening technologies and recommendations
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