2,727 research outputs found
An effectual template bank for the detection of gravitational waves from inspiralling compact binaries with generic spins
We report the construction of a three-dimensional template bank for the
search for gravitational waves from inspiralling binaries consisting of
spinning compact objects. The parameter space consists of two dimensions
describing the mass parameters and one "reduced-spin" parameter, which
describes the secular (non-precessing) spin effects in the waveform. The
template placement is based on an efficient stochastic algorithm and makes use
of the semi-analytical computation of a metric in the parameter space. We
demonstrate that for "low-mass" () binaries,
this template bank achieves effective fitting factors --
towards signals from generic spinning binaries in the advanced detector era
over the entire parameter space of interest (including binary neutron stars,
binary black holes, and black hole-neutron star binaries). This provides a
powerful and viable method for searching for gravitational waves from generic
spinning low-mass compact binaries. Under the assumption that spin magnitudes
of black-holes [neutron-stars] are uniformly distributed between 0--0.98 [0 --
0.4] and spin angles are isotropically distributed, the expected improvement in
the average detection volume (at a fixed signal-to-noise-ratio threshold) of a
search using this reduced-spin bank is , as compared to a search
using a non-spinning bank.Comment: Minor changes, version appeared in Phys. Rev.
Detection of GRB signals with Fluorescence Detectors
Gamma Ray Bursts are being searched in many ground based experiments
detecting the high energy component (GeV TeV energy range) of the photon
bursts. In this paper, Fluorescence Detectors are considered as possible
candidate devices for these searches. It is shown that the GRB photons induce
fluorescence emission of UV photons on a wide range of their spectrum. The
induced fluorescence flux is dominated by GRB photons from 0.1 to about 100 MeV
and, once the extinction through the atmosphere is taken into account, it is
distributed over a wide angular region. This flux can be detected through a
monitor of the diffuse photon flux, provided that its maximum value exceeds a
threshold value, that is primarily determined by the sky brightness above the
detector. The feasibility of this search and the expected rates are discussed
on the basis of the current GRB observations and the existing fluorescence
detectors.Comment: 16 pages 9 eps figure
New interesting moss records from the Pollino National Park (Southern Italy).
Some interesting moss records in Pollino National Park, noteworthy protected area of the southern Apennines, are reported. Among them, Mnium spinosum and Brachythecium tommasinii are new to southern Italian peninsula, Grimmia laevigata, G. Montana, G. tergestina, G. trichophylla and Orthotrichum pumilum are new to Basilicata region, and, finally, Campylidium sommerfeltii is rare in southern Italy and little known in Mediterranean area
New interesting moss records from the Pollino National Park (Southern Italy).
Some interesting moss records in Pollino National Park, noteworthy protected area of the southern Apennines, are reported. Among them, Mnium spinosum and Brachythecium tommasinii are new to southern Italian peninsula, Grimmia laevigata, G. Montana, G. tergestina, G. trichophylla and Orthotrichum pumilum are new to Basilicata region, and, finally, Campylidium sommerfeltii is rare in southern Italy and little known in Mediterranean area
A novel Digital OTA topology with 66-dB DC Gain and 12.3-kHz Bandwidth
The paper introduces an enhanced digital OTA topology which allows increasing the DC gain thanks to the adoption of an inverter-based output stage. Moreover, a new equivalent small-signal model is proposed which allows to simplify the circuit analysis and paves the way to new frequency compensation strategies. Designed using a 28-nm standard CMOS technology and working at 0.3-V power supply, post-layout simulations show a 66-dB gain and a 12.3-kHz gain bandwidth product while driving a 250-pF capacitive load. As compared to other ultra-low-voltage OTAs in literature, an increase of small and large signal performance, respect to area occupation, equal to 4.6X and 1.5X, respectively, is obtained
Detection of ultra-high energy cosmic ray showers with a single-pixel fluorescence telescope
We present a concept for large-area, low-cost detection of ultra-high energy
cosmic rays (UHECRs) with a Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel
Telescopes (FAST), addressing the requirements for the next generation of UHECR
experiments. In the FAST design, a large field of view is covered by a few
pixels at the focal plane of a mirror or Fresnel lens. We report first results
of a FAST prototype installed at the Telescope Array site, consisting of a
single 200 mm photomultiplier tube at the focal plane of a 1 m Fresnel lens
system taken from the prototype of the JEM-EUSO experiment. The FAST prototype
took data for 19 nights, demonstrating remarkable operational stability. We
detected laser shots at distances of several kilometres as well as 16 highly
significant UHECR shower candidates.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic
Post-graduate medical education in public health: The case of Italy and a call for action
Public health technical expertise is of crucial importance to inform decision makers\u2019
action in the field of health and its broader determinants. Improving education and
training of public health professionals for both practice and research is the starting
point to strengthen the role of public health so that current health challenges can
be efficiently tackled. At the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European
Region (ASPHER) Deans\u2019 & Directors\u2019 2017 Annual Retreat, we presented the structure
and management of public health training system in Italy, and we reported recent data
on Italian public health specialists\u2019 educational experience, employment opportunities
and job satisfaction. Public health training in Italy is implemented in the context
of the post-graduate medical education residency programme in Hygiene and
Preventive Medicine, delivered by 34 University-based Schools of Public Health.
We report relatively high employment rates across the county and wide
spectrum of career opportunities for young public health specialists. However,
job security is low and training expectations only partially met. We call upon
other Schools of Public Health to scale up the survey within the broad ASPHER
community in a shared and coordinated action of systematically collecting useful
data that can inform the development of public health education and training
models, their implementation and fruitful interaction with population health,
health systems and services
Visual Attention for Region of Interest Coding in JPEG 2000
This paper details work undertaken on the application of an algorithm for visual attention (VA) to region of interest (ROI) coding in JPEG 2000 (JP2K). In this way, an "interest ordered" progressive bit-stream is produced where the regions highlighted by the VA algorithm are presented first in bit-stream. The paper briefly outlines the terminology used in JP2K, the packet structure of the bit-stream, and the methods available to achieve ROI coding in JP2K (tiling, coefficient scaling, and code-block selection). The paper then describes how the output of the VA algorithm is post-processed so that an ROI is produced that can be efficiently coded using coefficient scaling in JP2K. Finally, a two alternative forced choice (2AFC) visual trial is undertaken to compare the visual quality of images encoded using the proposed VA ROI algorithm and conventional JP2K. The experimental results show that, while there is no overall preference for the VA ROI encoded images; there is an improvement in perceived image quality at low bit rates (below 0.25 bits per pixel). It is concluded that an overall increase in image quality only occurs when the increase in quality of the ROI more than compensates for the decrease in quality of the image background (i.e., non-ROI)
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