Strong Lensing by Binary Galaxies Modelled as Isothermal Spheres

We study the problem of gravitational lensing by binary galaxies, idealized as two isothermal spheres. In a wide binary, each galaxy possesses individual tangential, nearly astroidal, caustics and roundish radial caustics. As the separation of the binary is made smaller, the caustics undergo a sequence of metamorphoses. The first metamorphosis occurs when the tangential caustics merge to form a single six-cusped caustic, lying interior to the radial caustics. At still smaller separations, the six-cusped caustic undergoes the second metamorphosis and splits into a four-cusped caustic and two three-cusped caustics, which shrink to zero size (an elliptic umbilic catastrophe) before they enlarge again and move away from the origin perpendicular to the binary axis. Finally, a third metamorphosis occurs as the three-cusp caustics join the radial caustics, leaving an inner distorted astroid caustic enclosed by two outer caustics. The maximum number of images possible is 7. Classifying the multiple imaging according to critical isochrones, there are only 8 possibilities: 2 three-image cases, 3 five-image cases, and 3 seven-image cases. When the isothermal spheres are singular, the core images vanish into the central singularity. The number of images may then be 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the source location, and the separation and masses of the pair of lensing galaxies. The locations of metamorphoses, and the onset of threefold and fivefold multiple imaging, can be worked out analytically in this case.Comment: MNRAS, in pres

Reliability of flexible low temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor

This work reports the effect of mechanical stress-induced degradation in flexible low-temperature polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistors. After 100,000 iterations of channel-width-direction mechanical compression at R=2mm, a significant shift of extracted threshold voltage and an abnormal hump at the subthreshold region were found. Simulation reveals that both the strongest mechanical stress and electrical field takes place at both sides of the channel edge, between the polycrystalline silicon and gate insulator. The gate insulator suffered from a serious mechanical stress and result in a defect generation in the gate insulator. The degradation of the threshold voltage shift and the abnormal hump can be ascribed to the electron trapping in these defects. In addition, this work introduced three methods to reduce the degradation cause by the mechanical stress, including the quality improvement of the gate insulator, organic trench structure and active layer with a wing structure. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Advanced Ionospheric Probe scientific mission onboard FORMOSAT-5 satellite

Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP) is a piggyback science payload developed by National Central University for FORMOSAT-5 satellite to explore space weather/climate and seismic precursors associated with strong earthquakes. The AIP is an all-in-one plasma sensor that measures ionospheric plasma concentrations, velocities, and temperatures in a time-sharing way and is capable of measuring ionospheric plasma irregularities at a sample rate up to 8192 Hz over a wide range of spatial scales. Electroformed gold grids used in the AIP in theory construct planar electric potential surfaces better than woven grids. Moreover, a plasma injection test performed in the Space Plasma Simulation Chamber has verified that no significant hysteresis is found in current-voltage curves measured by the AIP. It indicates that the AIP can make an accurate measurement of the ionospheric plasma parameters in space. Finally, Ionospheric Plasma and Electrodynamics Instrument (IPEI) observations onboard the ROCSAT-1 satellite are applied to show that the scientific objectives of ionospheric space weather/climate and seismo-ionospheric precursors (SIPs) of the FORMOSAT-5/AIP can be fulfilled. The observations reveal that ion parameter global distributions are helpful in studying the formation and variation in temperature crests and troughs in the 2200 - 2300 local time sector, as well as SIPs in the density and the velocity over the epicenter area, which are anticipated for the FORMOSAT-5 satellite orbit

OGLE-2008-BLG-510: first automated real-time detection of a weak microlensing anomaly - brown dwarf or stellar binary?

The microlensing event OGLE-2008-BLG-510 is characterised by an evident asymmetric shape of the peak, promptly detected by the ARTEMiS system in real time. The skewness of the light curve appears to be compatible both with binary-lens and binary-source models, including the possibility that the lens system consists of an M dwarf orbited by a brown dwarf. The detection of this microlensing anomaly and our analysis demonstrates that: 1) automated real-time detection of weak microlensing anomalies with immediate feedback is feasible, efficient, and sensitive, 2) rather common weak features intrinsically come with ambiguities that are not easily resolved from photometric light curves, 3) a modelling approach that finds all features of parameter space rather than just the `favourite model' is required, and 4) the data quality is most crucial, where systematics can be confused with real features, in particular small higher-order effects such as orbital motion signatures. It moreover becomes apparent that events with weak signatures are a silver mine for statistical studies, although not easy to exploit. Clues about the apparent paucity of both brown-dwarf companions and binary-source microlensing events might hide here.Comment: 17 pages with 8 figures, MNRAS submitte

Biochemical Characterization of APPL Endosomes: The Role of Annexin A2 in APPL Membrane Recruitment

APPL endosomes are a recently identified subpopulation of early endosomes characterized by the presence of two homologous Rab5 effector proteins APPL1 and APPL2. They exhibit only limited colocalization with EEA1, another Rab5 effector and a marker of the canonical early endosomes. Although APPL endosomes appear to play important roles in cargo trafficking and signal transduction, their protein composition and biochemical properties remain largely unknown. Here we employed membrane fractionation methods to characterize APPL endosomes biochemically. We demonstrate that they represent heterogeneous membrane structures which can be discriminated from the canonical EEA1-positive early endosomes by their partly different physical properties and a distinct migration pattern in the continuous density gradients. In search for other potential markers of APPL endosomes we identified Annexin A2 as an interacting partner of both APPL1 and APPL2. Annexin A2 is a Ca2+ and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding protein, previously implicated in several endocytic steps. We show that Annexin A2 co-fractionates and colocalizes with APPL endosomes. Moreover, silencing of its expression causes solubilization of APPL2 from endosomes. Although Annexin A2 is not an exclusive marker of APPL endosomes, our data suggest that it has an important function in membrane recruitment of APPL proteins, acting in parallel to Rab5

Emergency medical dispatch services across Pan-Asian countries: a web-based survey

Background Dispatch services (DSs) form an integral part of emergency medical service (EMS) systems. The role of a dispatcher has also evolved into a crucial link in patient care delivery, particularly in dispatcher assisted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (DACPR) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Yet, there has been a paucity of research into the emerging area of dispatch science in Asia. This paper compares the characteristics of DSs, and state of implementation of DACPR within the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes (PAROS) network. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey addressing population characteristics, DS structures and levels of service, state of DACPR implementation (including protocols and quality improvement programs) among PAROS DSs. Results 9 DSs responded, representing a total of 23 dispatch centres from 9 countries that serve over 80 million people. Most PAROS DSs operate a tiered dispatch response, have implemented medical oversight, and tend to be staffed by dispatchers with a predominantly medical background. Almost all PAROS DSs have begun tracking key EMS indicators. 77.8% (n = 7) of PAROS DSs have introduced DACPR. Of the DSs that have rolled out DACPR, 71.4% (n = 5) provided instructions in over one language. All DSs that implemented DACPR and provided feedback to dispatchers offered feedback on missed OHCA recognition. The majority of DSs (83.3%; n = 5) that offered DACPR and provided feedback to dispatchers also implemented corrective feedback, while 66.7% (n = 4) offered positive feedback. Compression-only CPR was the standard instruction for PAROS DSs. OHCA recognition sensitivity varied widely in PAROS DSs, ranging from 32.6% (95% CI: 29.9–35.5%) to 79.2% (95% CI: 72.9–84.4%). Median time to first compression ranged from 120 s to 220 s. Conclusions We found notable variations in characteristics and state of DACPR implementation between PAROS DSs. These findings will lay the groundwork for future DS and DACPR studies in the PAROS network.This study was supported by grants from National Medical Research Council, Clinician Scientist Awards, Singapore NMRC/CSA/024/2010 and NMRC/CSA/0049/2013), Ministry of Health, Health Services Research Grant, Singapore (HSRG/0021/2012). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript