Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Measurement of the Radiation Energy in the Radio Signal of Extensive Air Showers as a Universal Estimator of Cosmic-Ray Energy

We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of 15.8 \pm 0.7 (stat) \pm 6.7 (sys) MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from state-of-the-art first-principle calculations shows agreement with our measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Supplemental material in the ancillary file

Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Liver Cirrhosis and Fatty Liver: Correlation with Cardiac Performance

Objective: The aims of the present study were to assess the serum BNP level in patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and patients with fatty liver and to determine the correlation between BNP and the severity of liver disease and cardiac performance. Methods: The study was conducted on 140 subjects subdivided into 3 groups: group 1 included 60 patients having post hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver cirrhosis; group 2 included 60 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); and group 3 included 20 healthy volunteers serving as a control group. All patients and volunteers were subjected to full physical examinations, laboratory evaluation of hemoglobin percent, liver and renal function tests, serum electrolytes, cholesterol, triglyceride, HBs antigen, HCV antibody and serum BNP levels, ECG, abdominal ultrasonography, and echocardiography. Results: There was a significant increase in the BNP level in cirrhotic patients compared to the other two groups (p = 0.000), and it was correlated with the severity of liver disease assigned as Child's classification (p = 0.000). Also, there was a significant increase in the BNP level in cirrhotic patients with decompensation components compared to those without decompensation components (p = 0.000), history of hepatic encephalopathy (p = 0.000), history of variceal bleeding (p = 0.000), history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (p = 0.000), presence of ascites (p = 0.000) and portal vein diameter > 11 mm in abdominal ultrasound (p = 0.000), and prolonged QTc interval in ECG (p = 0.011). There was a significant increase in serum BNP in patients with cirrhosis with the following echocardiographic findings: IVST > 11 mm, PWT > 11 mm, LA diameter > 40 mm, EF% < 54%, and E/A ratio < 1 compared to those without these echocardiographic findings (p = 0.000). Conclusion: BNP level increases in post hepatitis C cirrhotic patients and tends to decrease in fatty liver disease patients, and it is correlated with both the severity of liver disease and the morpho-functional cardiac changes. Given the ever-increasing prevalence of liver cirrhosis and fatty liver disease worldwide, it is important to understand the benefits and limitations of BNP as a heart failure biomarker in hepatic patients, where the relationship between BNP level and myocardial function is complex and is altered by the liver disease

Frequency and risk factors of abnormal nerve conduction studies in accidentally diagnosed diabetes

Abstract Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the major diabetic complication and affects quality of life (QoL).This study aims at assessing the frequency of DPN among accidentally diagnosed diabetic patients, identifying risk factors linked to DPN in those patients, and determine the potential effect on QoL. Results According to nerve conduction study (NCS), 32 patients (44.4%) had polyneuropathy. Polyneuropathy is significantly associated with older age, higher hip and waist measurements, higher weight, and body mass index (BMI). About 53% of patients with polyneuropathy were current smokers versus 25% of non-smokers. Longer duration since the first diagnosis, higher fasting blood sugar (FBG), 2-h post-prandial (2-hPP) glucose, and HbA1c are also associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN) (p < 0.001). Being on insulin was associated with PN (p = 0.002). Increasing BMI, current smoking, and increased HbA1c significantly increase the risk of PN by 1.314, 19.963, and 3.302-folds, respectively. An unhealthy diet is also associated with PN.Hyperlipidemia was also associated with PN (p = 0.028). A significant positive association was found between DQoL scores and symptom scores. Conclusion A significant proportion of type 2 diabetic patients had DPN at the time of diagnosis, which adversely affects QoL. At the time of diagnosis, it is highly suggested that proper screening. procedures be used for DPN. Obesity, smoking, and elevated HbA1c significantly increase the risk of DPN

Growth response of Egyptian children with idiopathic short stature during four years of growth hormone therapy

Background: Multiple factors affect the growth response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Aim: To evaluate the growth responses of children with ISS treated with rhGH, aiming to identify the predictors of growth response. Materials and Methods: We studied 120 cases, 90 males (75%), with a mean age of 13.8±2.7 years and 30 females (25%), with a mean age of 12.3±2.5 years. All patients received rhGH with a standard dose of 20 IU /m2 /week. The calculated dose per week was divided into six days and given subcutaneous at night. Results: A significant positive trend was detected in the delta changes of all anthropometric data. For the first year, the growth response was positively correlated to CA and BA delay and negatively correlated to height, weight and IGF-1 SDSs. For the second year, the growth response was correlated positively to first year growth velocity, BA, triceps skin fold thickness SDS and deviation from target height, and negatively correlated to weight, IGFBP3 SDS and target height SDS. For the third year, the growth response was positively correlated to five variables namely target height, 2nd year growth velocity, IGF-1 SDS, weight SDS and triceps skin fold thickness SDS. For the fourth year, growth response was positively correlated to 2nd and 3rd year growth velocity, BA, deviation from target height and weight/ height SDS. Conclusion: Our study showed multiplicity of predictors that is responsible for response in ISS children treated with rhGH, and BA was an important predictor

Bone age is the best predictor of growth response to recombinant human growth hormone in Turner&apos;s syndrome

Background and Objectives: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is approved for use in children with Turner′s syndrome (TS) in most industrialized countries and is recommended in the recently issued guidelines. We determined the growth responses of girls who are treated with rhGH for TS, with an aim to identify the predictors of growth response. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six prepubertal girls with TS, documented by peripheral blood karyotype, were enrolled. All the patients received biosynthetic growth hormone therapy with a standard dose of 30 IU/m 2 /week. The calculated dose per week was divided for 6 days and given subcutaneously at night. Results: This study showed that rhGH therapy provides satisfactory auxological results. Bone age delay is to be considered as a predictive factor which may negatively influence the effect of rhGH therapy on final height. The growth velocity in the preceding year is the most important predictor of rhGH therapy response. Conclusion: These observations help us to guide rhGH prescription, to reduce the risks and costs

Visions for nature and nature’s contributions to people for the 21st century : Report from an IPBES visioning workshop held on 4-8 September 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand

Existing scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) have important limitations and gaps that constrain their usefulness for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Specifically, they fail to incorporate policy objectives related to nature conservation and social-ecological feedbacks, they do not address the linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services, and they are typically relevant at only a particular spatial scale. In addition, nature and its benefits are treated as the consequence of human decisions, but are not at the centre of the analysis. To address these issues, the IPBES Scenarios and Models Expert Group initiated the development of a set of Multiscale Scenarios for Nature Futures based on positive visions for human relationships with nature.The first step of this process was a visioning workshop with stakeholders and experts on 4-8 September 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 73 participants from inter-governmental organisations, national government organisations, non-governmental organisations, academia and the private sector, from 31 countries, and with a range of sectoral expertise on biodiversity topics, from urban development to agriculture to fisheries, worked together in a visioning exercise. This report documents the results from this visioning workshop to inform further stakeholder consultation and the development of the associated multiscale scenarios by modelers and experts. This creative visioning exercise was carried out in four steps based on a suite of participatory methods that were used to develop visions of alternative futures. First the participants identified important themes to develop the visions. Next, thematic groups identified the main trends for BES in each theme and a set of “Seeds” of emerging initiatives leading to positive futures for our relationship with nature. Implications of what would happen across a range of sectors were identified for each seed. Then a pathway analysis of how the current regime in each theme may be transformed into the future desirable regime was carriedout. Narratives were then built for the visions emerging from each group. Finally, commonalities of visions across the groups were identified, and the regional relevance of each vision for different parts of the world was assessed

Visions for nature and nature’s contributions to people for the 21st century : Report from an IPBES visioning workshop held on 4-8 September 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand

Existing scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) have important limitations and gaps that constrain their usefulness for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Specifically, they fail to incorporate policy objectives related to nature conservation and social-ecological feedbacks, they do not address the linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services, and they are typically relevant at only a particular spatial scale. In addition, nature and its benefits are treated as the consequence of human decisions, but are not at the centre of the analysis. To address these issues, the IPBES Scenarios and Models Expert Group initiated the development of a set of Multiscale Scenarios for Nature Futures based on positive visions for human relationships with nature.The first step of this process was a visioning workshop with stakeholders and experts on 4-8 September 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 73 participants from inter-governmental organisations, national government organisations, non-governmental organisations, academia and the private sector, from 31 countries, and with a range of sectoral expertise on biodiversity topics, from urban development to agriculture to fisheries, worked together in a visioning exercise. This report documents the results from this visioning workshop to inform further stakeholder consultation and the development of the associated multiscale scenarios by modelers and experts. This creative visioning exercise was carried out in four steps based on a suite of participatory methods that were used to develop visions of alternative futures. First the participants identified important themes to develop the visions. Next, thematic groups identified the main trends for BES in each theme and a set of “Seeds” of emerging initiatives leading to positive futures for our relationship with nature. Implications of what would happen across a range of sectors were identified for each seed. Then a pathway analysis of how the current regime in each theme may be transformed into the future desirable regime was carriedout. Narratives were then built for the visions emerging from each group. Finally, commonalities of visions across the groups were identified, and the regional relevance of each vision for different parts of the world was assessed