Cosmology with Gravitational Waves in des and LSST

Motivated by the prospect of the wealth of data arising from the inauguration of the era of gravitational wave detection by ground-based interferometers the DES collaboration, in partnership with members of the LIGO collaboration and members of the astronomical community at large, have established a research program to search for their optical counterparts and to explore their use as cosmological probes. In this talk we present the status of our program and discuss prospects for establishing this new probe as part of the portfolio of the Dark Energy research program in the future, in particular for the next generation survey, LSST

Weak-lensing calibration of a stellar mass-based mass proxy for redMaPPer and Voronoi Tessellation clusters in SDSS Stripe 82

We present the first weak lensing calibration of $\mu_{\star}$, a new galaxy cluster mass proxy corresponding to the total stellar mass of red and blue members, in two cluster samples selected from the SDSS Stripe 82 data: 230 redMaPPer clusters at redshift $0.1\leq z<0.33$ and 136 Voronoi Tessellation (VT) clusters at $0.1 \leq z < 0.6$. We use the CS82 shear catalog and stack the clusters in $\mu_{\star}$ bins to measure a mass-observable power law relation. For redMaPPer clusters we obtain $M_0 = (1.77 \pm 0.36) \times 10^{14}h^{-1} M_{\odot}$, $\alpha = 1.74 \pm 0.62$. For VT clusters, we find $M_0 = (4.31 \pm 0.89) \times 10^{14}h^{-1} M_{\odot}$, $\alpha = 0.59 \pm 0.54$ and $M_0 = (3.67 \pm 0.56) \times 10^{14}h^{-1} M_{\odot}$, $\alpha = 0.68 \pm 0.49$ for a low and a high redshift bin, respectively. Our results are consistent, internally and with the literature, indicating that our method can be applied to any cluster finding algorithm. In particular, we recommend that $\mu_{\star}$ be used as the mass proxy for VT clusters. Catalogs including $\mu_{\star}$ measurements will enable its use in studies of galaxy evolution in clusters and cluster cosmology.Comment: Updated to be consistent with the published versio

The SDSS Coadd: A Galaxy Photometric Redshift Catalog

We present and describe a catalog of galaxy photometric redshifts (photo-z's) for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Coadd Data. We use the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique to calculate photo-z's and the Nearest Neighbor Error (NNE) method to estimate photo-z errors for $\sim$ 13 million objects classified as galaxies in the coadd with $r < 24.5$. The photo-z and photo-z error estimators are trained and validated on a sample of $\sim 83,000$ galaxies that have SDSS photometry and spectroscopic redshifts measured by the SDSS Data Release 7 (DR7), the Canadian Network for Observational Cosmology Field Galaxy Survey (CNOC2), the Deep Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe Data Release 3(DEEP2 DR3), the VIsible imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph - Very Large Telescope Deep Survey (VVDS) and the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey. For the best ANN methods we have tried, we find that 68% of the galaxies in the validation set have a photo-z error smaller than $\sigma_{68} =0.031$. After presenting our results and quality tests, we provide a short guide for users accessing the public data.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, submitted to ApJ. Analysis updated to remove proprietary BOSS data comprising small fraction (8%) of original spectroscopic training set and erroneously included. Changes in results are small compared to the errors and the conclusions are unaffected. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:0708.003

Caracterização física, química e sensorial de um salgado hiperproteico consumido por atletas e praticantes de atividade física

Como uma alternativa aos suplementos proteicos, muitos atletas e praticantes de atividade física têm consumido um salgado que tem sido amplamente divulgado através de redes sociais na internet. A versão mais popular do salgado tem sido a de massa elaborada com carne de peito de frango e couve-flor. Porém, a relação entre carne de frango e couve-flor tem variado e até o presente momento nenhum estudo foi desenvolvido para caracterização desse salgado. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar física, química e sensorialmente formulações (F) do salgado elaboradas com diferentes percentuais de couve-flor (F1 - 33% e F2 - 47%). Na avaliação física, foram determinados os valores médios de peso, volume aparente, volume específico e fator térmico. A composição química das amostras procedeu-se de acordo com os métodos oficiais. O pH, acidez titulável e valor energético também foram determinados. Na análise sensorial, 50 provadores não treinados, de ambos os sexos, realizaram em prova aberta o teste sensorial afetivo de escala hedônica de 9 pontos. A aceitabilidade das amostras foi avaliada quanto ao aspecto geral e atributos cor, aroma, sabor e textura. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a relação entre carne de frango e couve-flor levou a uma diminuição significativa no peso da formulação F2 antes e após a cocção, bem como no volume aparente e fator térmico. O teor de proteínas da formulação F2 também foi significativamente mais baixo. Contudo, na avaliação sensorial, ambas as formulações obtiveram índice de aceitabilidade acima de 70% para todos os atributos sensoriais avaliados. ABSTRACTPhysical, Chemical and Sensory Characterization of a Hyperproteic Snack Eaten by Athletes and Physical Activity PractitionersAs an alternative to protein supplements, athletes and physical activity practitioners have consumed a snack that has been widely disseminated through social networks on the internet.  Its most popular version has been that of dough produced with chicken breast and cauliflower. However, the relation between both ingredients has varied and so far no study has been developed to characterize this snack. The aim of this study was to evaluate physical, chemical and sensorial two formulations (F) of the snack (F1 - 33% e F2 - 47%). On the physical evaluation, the mean values of weight, apparent volume, specific volume and thermal factor were determined. The chemical composition of the samples was carried out in accordance with the official methods. The values of pH, titratable acidity and energy were also determined. In the sensory evaluation, 50 untrained panelist, of both sexes, held in an open assay the affective sensory test of a nine-point hedonic scale ranging from 1 = dislike extremely to 9 = like extremely. The acceptability of the samples was evaluated for general appearance and the attributes color, aroma, flavor and texture. The results obtained showed that the relation between chicken meat and cauliflower led to a significant decrease in the weight of the formulation F2 before and after cooking, as well as in the apparent volume and heat factor. The protein content of formulation F2 was also significantly lower. However, in the sensory evaluation, both formulations showed acceptability index above 70% for all sensory attributes evaluated

Photometry, Centroid and Point-Spread Function Measurements in the LSST Camera Focal Plane Using Artificial Stars

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory's LSST Camera pixel response has been characterized using laboratory measurements with a grid of artificial stars. We quantify the contributions to photometry, centroid, point-spread function size, and shape measurement errors due to small anomalies in the LSSTCam CCDs. The main sources of those anomalies are quantum efficiency variations and pixel area variations induced by the amplifier segmentation boundaries and "tree-rings" -- circular variations in silicon doping concentration. We studied the effects using artificial stars projected on the sensors and find that the resulting measurement uncertainties pass the ten-year LSST survey science requirements. In addition, we verify that the tree-ring effects can be corrected using flat-field images if needed, because the astronomic shifts and shape measurement errors they induce correlate well with the flat-field signal. Nevertheless, further sensor anomaly studies with on-sky data should probe possible temporal and wavelength-dependent effects.Comment: Submitted to PAS

Poincianella pluviosa como biomonitora de metais pesados no município de Volta Redonda, RJ, Brasil

The present study aimed to determine heavy metal concentrations in the tree bark of the species Poincianella pluviosa in Volta Redonda municipality, Rio de Janeiro. Four sets of barks of eight trees with three replicates each from sectors 1 (W), 2 (S), 3 (E), and 4 (N) of the Volta Redonda center corresponding to the cardinal points were collected. The samples were digested in a nitroperchloric mixture and the lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The cluster analysis (CA) formed 12 groups; among them, group 3 (G3) showed the presence of all seven elements in sector 1 and group 8 (G8) showed the presence of Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni, and Mn in sector 2. Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests showed that all elements presented statistically different values among the four sectors when compared with each other (p > 0.05). Sectors 1, 2, and 3 had the highest concentrations of heavy metals, which are directly associated with vehicle and railroad flow and iron and steel activities that are concentrated in these sectors. Bark can be used as an effective method for the monitoring of air pollution in urban areas. © 2019, Departamento de Engenharia Agricola - UFCG/Cnpq. All rights reserved

Ceramic veneers on teeth with non-carious cervical lesions: case report and finite element analysis

On ceramic veneers rehabilitation, teeth with non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), especially premolars, are often involved. Preparation to remove deep NCCLs may lead to excessive wear and a less conservative approach, which goes against the current principles of minimal wear and maximum preservation. However, no evidence exists indicating which technique could avoid excessive wear during the dental preparation for veneers associated with NCCL. Thus, this manuscript has two main purposes: 1) to present an aesthetic treatment with ceramic veneers and follow-up of 24 months of a patient with various levels of NCCL severity and 2) to evaluate various wear protocols for dental veneers associated with NCCL via Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to guide and justify the clinical decision of the clinical case described. A 37-year-old male patient presented for treatment with wear on the anterior teeth and with NCCLs of various severity degrees on the posterior teeth. The treatment chosen was rehabilitation with ceramic veneers on teeth 15 to 25. The best restorative approach for the NCCL teeth was evaluated via an FEA, simulating various protocols and lesion depths while also calculating the percentage of tooth structure loss. Restoring the premolar’s deeper NCCL with a composite resin core, before a ceramic veneer impression, presented better mechanical behavior in FEA and less tooth wear. For the 1.0 mm NCCL, beveling the lesion promoted good stress distribution, less invasive wear and an easier clinical procedure, as it did not involve a previous restorative procedure. It could be concluded that the restorative decision for premolars with NCCLs that will receive veneers should consider the set biomechanical behavior and especially the tooth structure wear necessary. For the case report presented, after two years of follow-up, no changes from the immediate result were observed, indicating that the cause of the lesions was eliminated, and that the treatment was effective, at least in the short-term. For FEA analysis, restoring the deeper NCCL prior to ceramic veneer impression, presented better mechanical behavior and less tooth wear. For the 1.0 mm NCCL, beveling the margin of the lesion generated the same good results

Getting Ready for LISA: The Data, Support and Preparation Needed to Maximize US Participation in Space-Based Gravitational Wave Science

The NASA LISA Study Team was tasked to study how NASA might support US scientists to participate and maximize the science return from the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. LISA is gravitational wave observatory led by ESA with NASA as a junior partner, and is scheduled to launch in 2034. Among our findings: LISA science productivity is greatly enhanced by a full-featured US science center and an open access data model. As other major missions have demonstrated, a science center acts as both a locus and an amplifier of research innovation, data analysis, user support, user training and user interaction. In its most basic function, a US Science Center could facilitate entry into LISA science by hosting a Data Processing Center and a portal for the US community to access LISA data products. However, an enhanced LISA Science Center could: support one of the parallel independent processing pipelines required for data product validation; stimulate the high level of research on data analysis that LISA demands; support users unfamiliar with a novel observatory; facilitate astrophysics and fundamental research; provide an interface into the subtleties of the instrument to validate extraordinary discoveries; train new users; and expand the research community through guest investigator, postdoc and student programs. Establishing a US LISA Science Center well before launch can have a beneficial impact on the participation of the broader astronomical community by providing training, hosting topical workshops, disseminating mock catalogs, software pipelines, and documentation. Past experience indicates that successful science centers are established several years before launch; this early adoption model may be especially relevant for a pioneering mission like LISA.Comment: 93 pages with a lovely cover page thanks to Bernard Kelly and Elizabeth Ferrar