Automatic model-based telluric correction for the ESPRESSO data reduction software. Model description and application to radial velocity computation

Ground-based high-resolution spectrographs are key instruments for several astrophysical domains. Unfortunately, the observed spectra are contaminated by the Earth's atmosphere. While different techniques exist to correct for telluric lines in exoplanet atmospheric studies, in radial velocity (RV) studies, telluric lines with an absorption depth of >2% are generally masked, which poses a problem for faint targets and M dwarfs as most of their RV content is present where telluric contamination is important. We propose a simple telluric model to be embedded in the ESPRESSO DRS. The goal is to provide telluric-free spectra and enable RV measurements, including spectral ranges where telluric lines fall. The model is a line-by-line radiative transfer code that assumes a single atmospheric layer. We use the sky conditions and the physical properties of the lines from HITRAN to create the telluric spectrum. A subset of selected telluric lines is used to robustly fit the spectrum through a Levenberg-Marquardt minimization algorithm. When applied to stellar spectra from A0- to M5-type stars, the residuals of the strongest H2O lines are below 2% for all spectral types, with the exception of M dwarfs, which are within the pseudo-continuum. We then determined the RVs from the telluric-corrected ESPRESSO spectra of Tau Ceti and Proxima. We created telluric-free masks and compared the obtained RVs with the DRS RVs. In the case of Tau Ceti, we identified that micro-telluric lines introduce systematics up to an amplitude of 58 cm/s and with a period of one year. For Proxima, the gain in spectral content at redder wavelengths is equivalent to a gain of 25% in photon noise. This leads to better constraints on the semi-amplitude and eccentricity of Proxima d. We showcase that our model can be applied to other molecules, and thus to other wavelength regions observed by other spectrographs, such as NIRPS.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figures, accepted to A&

Colloquium: Statistical mechanics of money, wealth, and income

This Colloquium reviews statistical models for money, wealth, and income distributions developed in the econophysics literature since the late 1990s. By analogy with the Boltzmann-Gibbs distribution of energy in physics, it is shown that the probability distribution of money is exponential for certain classes of models with interacting economic agents. Alternative scenarios are also reviewed. Data analysis of the empirical distributions of wealth and income reveals a two-class distribution. The majority of the population belongs to the lower class, characterized by the exponential ("thermal") distribution, whereas a small fraction of the population in the upper class is characterized by the power-law ("superthermal") distribution. The lower part is very stable, stationary in time, whereas the upper part is highly dynamical and out of equilibrium.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures; v.2 - minor stylistic changes and updates of references corresponding to the published versio

Cosmology intertwined: A review of the particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology associated with the cosmological tensions and anomalies

The standard Cold Dark Matter (CDM) cosmological model provides a good description of a wide range of astrophysical and cosmological data. However, there are a few big open questions that make the standard model look like an approximation to a more realistic scenario yet to be found. In this paper, we list a few important goals that need to be addressed in the next decade, taking into account the current discordances between the different cosmological probes, such as the disagreement in the value of the Hubble constant H0, the σ8–S8 tension, and other less statistically significant anomalies. While these discordances can still be in part the result of systematic errors, their persistence after several years of accurate analysis strongly hints at cracks in the standard cosmological scenario and the necessity for new physics or generalisations beyond the standard model. In this paper, we focus on the 5.0 σ tension between the Planck CMB estimate of the Hubble constant H0 and the SH0ES collaboration measurements. After showing the H0 evaluations made from different teams using different methods and geometric calibrations, we list a few interesting new physics models that could alleviate this tension and discuss how the next decade’s experiments will be crucial. Moreover, we focus on the tension of the Planck CMB data with weak lensing measurements and redshift surveys, about the value of the matter energy density m, and the amplitude or rate of the growth of structure (σ8, f σ8). We list a few interesting models proposed for alleviating this tension, and we discuss the importance of trying to fit a full array of data with a single model and not just one parameter at a time. Additionally, we present a wide range of other less discussed anomalies at a statistical significance level lower than the H0–S8 tensions which may also constitute hints towards new physics, and we discuss possible generic theoretical approaches that can collectively explain the non-standard nature of these signals. Finally, we give an overview of upgraded experiments and next-generation space missions and facilities on Earth that will be of crucial importance to address all these open questions

Realistic and unrealistic direst costs in pharmacoeconomic anesthesia studies

Introduction: Multiplicity of anesthetic services and practice consume few resources individually, but collectively, they mean significant cost. Economic and pharmacoeconomic studies are done in order to rationalize resources. Aim: 1. To calculate the direct expense in anesthesia and reanimation; 2. To compare expenses to the price of anesthesia according to the unit prices of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF); 3. To compare the duration of general anesthesia with costs in anesthesia departments. Methodology: This paper is a part of the retrospectively-prospective academic study of fourth phase carried out in the Clinical Center of Serbia. With permission of Ethical committee, we have set for 2005 and 2006, the direct cost of 148.876 anesthetic services in 11 departments of Clinical Center of Serbia as tertiary-type institution of medical health care. Research group included all patients of both sexes, children and adults. We compared the direct cost per minute of general anesthesia with average duration of anesthesia in every anesthesia department of surgical clinics. The direct cost was compared with the same, 'unit' prices of NHIF. The direct cost was compared with the same, 'unit' prices of RHIF. We have used linear and regression statistical product and service solutions model for component cost analysis /SPSS 15/. Results: Most budget resources are selected for the employees' sallaries (40%), then the medicines and supplies (31,80%) and the other expenses including the analysis and analytic devices (28,20%). Direct costs indicate a linear correlation and statistically marked difference p=0,012, F=9,270 compared to anesthesia duration indicating the coefficient of correlation r=0,694. Direct costs are highest considering longest segment of anesthesia. We have obtained linear correlation R=0,706 for direct costs excluding the neurosurgical anesthesia with 'unit prices'of anesthesia and anesthetic services indicating F=9,951 and p=0,01. Conclusions: Anesthesia and anesthetic services show statistically significant and financially significant correlation with the direct costs and duration of anesthesia within different surgical specialties. Cosidering direct costs, only the costs of anesthetic drugs and materials are realistic, and all other elements are determined by law and by contract with NHIF. Other costs, out of the direct costs group shall be theoretically reduced by running the analyzes required for anesthesia and for the planned surgical intervention in primary health care protection. Data base related to surgical data and better computer programs able to monitor multiple parameters during hospital treatment, could determine more precisely the value of anesthetic services

Avoiding Bias in Measurements of Fundamental Constants from High Resolution Quasar Spectra^†

Recent advances in spectroscopic instrumentation and calibration methods dramatically improve the quality of quasar spectra. Supercomputer calculations show that, at high spectral resolution, procedures used in some previous analyses of spacetime variations of fundamental constants are likely to generate spurious measurements, biased systematically towards a null result. Developments in analysis methods are also summarised and a prescription given for the analysis of new and forthcoming data.</jats:p

ORGANIC-BIOLOGICAL AND CONVENTIONAL TOMATO GROWEN (Lycopersicon lycopersicum Mill) IN A GREENHOUSE

The aim of this research was to determine the possibility of tomato production in the organic-biological conditions and to compare it with the conventional tomato production. The research lasted for three years. Each type of organic manure and organic substrates used as the preparation of the organic-biological production underwent many agrochemical and microbiological analyses. There were no significant plant diseases or pests during the entire course of organic-biological tomato production. Duration of organic-biological production from the day of planting till picking time was shorter than for the conventional production. Moreover, the Monroe hybrid had heavier mean fruit weight, whereas both hybrids had approximately the same mean fruit number per plant. Regular monitoring and control of all technological parameters which are the most influential in greenhouse conditions for organic-biological tomato production provided satisfying qualitative and quantitative tomato yield for further market demands. Statistical data analysis was conducted through three way covariance analysis (ABC) with three repetitions for each trial. The trial revealed statistically justified difference for the studied hybrid types (P<0,05) throughout the three years' period (P<0,01). The differences between the crop production were not statistically significant (P<0,05), whereas interaction of hybrids and crop production was statistically very significant (P<0,01). Interaction of the studied factors has not been statistically justified (P<0,05)

Operating cost analysis of anaesthesia: Activity based costing (ABC analysis)

Introduction. Cost of anaesthesiology represent defined measures to determine a precise profile of expenditure estimation of surgical treatment, which is important regarding planning of healthcare activities, prices and budget. Objective. In order to determine the actual value of anaestesiological services, we started with the analysis of activity based costing (ABC) analysis. Methods. Retrospectively, in 2005 and 2006, we estimated the direct costs of anestesiological services (salaries, drugs, supplying materials and other: analyses and equipment.) of the Institute of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The group included all anesthetized patients of both sexes and all ages. We compared direct costs with direct expenditure, “each cost object (service or unit)” of the Republican Health-care Insurance. The Summary data of the Departments of Anaesthesia documented in the database of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. Numerical data were utilized and the numerical data were estimated and analyzed by computer programs Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and SPSS for Windows. We compared using the linear model of direct costs and unit costs of anaesthesiological services from the Costs List of the Republican Health-care Insurance. Results. Direct costs showed 40% of costs were spent on salaries, (32% on drugs and supplies, and 28% on other costs, such as analyses and equipment. The correlation of the direct costs of anaestesiological services showed a linear correlation with the unit costs of the Republican Healthcare Insurance. Conclusion. During surgery, costs of anaesthesia would increase by 10% the surgical treatment cost of patients. Regarding the actual costs of drugs and supplies, we do not see any possibility of costs reduction. Fixed elements of direct costs provide the possibility of rationalization of resources in anaesthesia

Efficiency and Biocompatibility of Antimicrobial Textile Material of Broad Spectrum Activity

the antimicrobial textile material. The material is in the form of plaster wound dressing which is consisting of a nonwoven textile base containing polypropylene (PP)/viscose, a polymer carrier, and an antimicrobial active substance. The polymer carrier is the polysaccharide D-glucosamine (chitosan), and the active antimicrobial substance is antibiotic gentamicin sulfate. The amount of gentamicin sulfate immobilized into the polymer matrix of the polymer carrier was 0.15-0.20 mg/cm(2) or 2.0-2.5% of the mass of the nonwoven textile material. The antimicrobial textile material has been studied in vitro and in vivo conditions through the efficiency of the antimicrobial effects on different kinds of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as the biocompatibility in preclinical research. The results of these experiments indicate that all bioactive textile materials were biocidal in vitro for all pathogenic test organisms. Good biocompatibility, the existence of the correlation between the in vitro and in vivo results, concerning efficiency, qualifies these antimicrobial biornaterials for clinical use