9,811 research outputs found

    Constraining the Inclination of Binary Mergers from Gravitational-wave Observations

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    Much of the information we hope to extract from the gravitational-waves signatures of compact binaries is only obtainable when we can accurately constrain the inclination of the source. In this paper, we discuss in detail a degeneracy between the measurement of the binary distance and inclination which limits our ability to accurately measure the inclination using gravitational waves alone. This degeneracy is exacerbated by the expected distribution of events in the universe, which leads us to prefer face-on systems at a greater distance. We use a simplified model that only considers the binary distance and orientation, and show that this gives comparable results to the full parameter estimates obtained from the binary neutron star merger GW170817. For the advanced LIGO-Virgo network, it is only signals which are close to edge-on, with an inclination greater than ∼75∘\sim 75^{\circ} that will be distinguishable from face-on systems. For extended networks which have good sensitivity to both gravitational wave polarizations, for face-on systems we will only be able to constrain the inclination of a signal with SNR 20 to be 45∘45^{\circ} or less, and even for loud signals, with SNR of 100, the inclination of a face-on signal will only be constrained to 30∘30^{\circ}. For black hole mergers observed at cosmological distances, in the absence of higher modes or orbital precession, the strong degeneracy between inclination and distance dominates the uncertainty in measurement of redshift and hence the masses of the black holes

    The outcome of elderly patients following removal of indwelling urinary catheter

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    The objectives of this study were to examine the documented indications for the insertion of the indwelling urinary catheter in elderly patients before admission to Zammit Clapp Hospital, St. Julians and St Vincent de Paule Residence, Luqa and to study the outcome after attempting removal of the indwelling urinary catheter. 64 patients from Zammit Clapp Hospital and 61 patients from St. Vincent de Paule Residence were studied. In 34 patients (24%), no clear reason for catheterisation prior to admission could be identified. In 46 patients (32 %) catheterisation was performed for severe uncontrollable incontinence. In all, 66 patients had their indwelling urinary catheter removed at some stage. Of these a total of 49 patients were continent 15 days after the removal of the catheter, 33 patients were still continent after 3 months and 29 patients remained continent after one year. With regards’ to continence rate, a poorer outcome was noted in patients with a mental score of less than 5/10, when compared to patients with a mental score of more than 5/10. Continence rates were better in patients from Zammit Clapp Hospital than in patients from St. Vincent de Paule residence. In conclusion, attempts should be made to use long term indwelling urinary catheterisation only if other measures fail. This can be achieved by proper multi-disciplinary team assessment and education of the patient or his carers. Full support from social services and provision and advice about the use of continence aids is necessary.peer-reviewe

    Assessing Learning-Centered Leadership: Connections to Research, Professional Standards, and Current Practices

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    Describes an assessment model designed to evaluate school leaders' performance. Unlike existing tools, this new system will assess both individuals and teams, and focuses specifically on instructional leadership and behaviors that improve learning

    Astrometric Detection of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zones of Nearby Stars with SIM PlanetQuest

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    SIM PlanetQuest (Space Interferometry Mission) is a space-borne Michelson interferometer for precision stellar astrometry, with a nine meter baseline, currently slated for launch in 2015. One of the principal science goals is the astrometric detection and orbit characterization of terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby stars. Differential astrometry of the target star against a set of reference stars lying within a degree will allow measurement of the target star's reflex motion with astrometric accuracy of 1 micro-arcsecond in a single measurement. We assess SIM's capability for detection (as opposed to characterization by orbit determination) of terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby solar-type stars. We compare SIM's performance on target lists optimized for the SIM and Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronograph (TPF-C) missions. Performance is quantified by three metrics: minimum detectable planet mass, number and mass distribution of detected planets, and completeness of detections in each mass range. Finally, we discuss the issue of confidence in detections and non-detections, and show how information from SIM's planet survey can enable TPF to increase its yield of terrestrial planets.Comment: Minor corrections to figures and tables. 46 pages, 27 figures. To appear in PASP (Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific), May 200

    Soft X-ray Excess in the Coma Cluster from a Cosmic Axion Background

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    We show that the soft X-ray excess in the Coma cluster can be explained by a cosmic background of relativistic axions converting into photons in the cluster magnetic field. We provide a detailed self-contained review of the cluster soft X-ray excess, the proposed astrophysical explanations and the problems they face, and explain how a 0.1-1 keV axion background naturally arises at reheating in many string theory models of the early universe. We study the morphology of the soft excess by numerically propagating axions through stochastic, multi-scale magnetic field models that are consistent with observations of Faraday rotation measures from Coma. By comparing to ROSAT observations of the 0.2-0.4 keV soft excess, we find that the overall excess luminosity is easily reproduced for gaγγ∼2×10−13g_{a\gamma\gamma} \sim 2 \times 10^{-13} GeV−1^{-1}. The resulting morphology is highly sensitive to the magnetic field power spectrum. For Gaussian magnetic field models, the observed soft excess morphology prefers magnetic field spectra with most power in coherence lengths on O(3 kpc){\cal O}(3 {\rm ~kpc}) scales over those with most power on O(12 kpc){\cal O}(12 {\rm ~kpc}) scales. Within this scenario, we bound the mean energy of the axion background to 50 eV≲⟨Ea⟩≲250 eV50\, {\rm eV}\lesssim \langle E_a \rangle \lesssim 250\, {\rm eV}, the axion mass to ma≲10−12 eVm_a \lesssim 10^{-12}\,\hbox{eV}, and derive a lower bound on the axion-photon coupling gaγγ≳0.5/ΔNeff 1.4×10−13g_{a\gamma\gamma} \gtrsim \sqrt{0.5/\Delta N_{\rm eff}}\, 1.4 \times 10^{-13} GeV−1^{-1}.Comment: 43 pages, 11 figure

    Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and cortisol levels on admission to intensive care as predictors of outcome

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    Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of glycosylated haemoglobin and cortisol on admission, in critical care patients. Design: Prospective, observational, single centre study. Setting: 14 bedded Intensive care unit of a tertiary-level university hospital. Patients: 124 consecutive emergency medical and surgical patients. Methods: Data collected on admission included patient demographics, medical history, medication, diagnosis, type of nutrition, TISS28 score, serum blood glucose, Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), cortisol, mean arterial blood pressure, and the use of inotropes in the first 24hrs. Daily baseline tests included complete blood count, urea and electrolytes, creatinine, twice weekly liver function tests. The primary outcome measure was intensive care unit mortality. Secondary outcome measures were ITU stay, days of ventilation, peak urea, peak creatinine, lowest platelet count, peak bilirubin, lowest Pa/FiO2, and the number of transfusions. Measurements and results: 124 patients (mean age 56.2 years SD 23.2) were included. Regression analysis was used to identify any potential predictors of outcome: HbA1c levels on admission were not found to be significantly associated with mortality (p=0.51), or any other secondary endpoints listed above. However, subgroup analysis revealed a predictive role of HbA1c with regards to length of ITU stay (p= 0.01) and number of days of ventilation (p=0.007) in those patients with a history of diabetes. Glucose level on admission emerged as an independent marker of mortality (p=0.009). Conclusions: This study suggests that HbA1c may not be a predictor of outcome in the general ITU population but may be of predictive value in diabetic ITU patients. On the other hand, blood glucose levels on admission emerged as a predictor of mortality, whilst no association was found between HbA1c and cortisol levels on admission.peer-reviewe

    Near Earth Space Object Detection Using Parallax as Multi-hypothesis Test Criterion

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    The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) operated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) is tasked with Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for the U.S. military. This system is made up of Electro-Optic sensors, such as the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) and RADAR based sensors, such as the Space Fence Gaps. They remain in the tracking of Resident Space Objects (RSO’s) in Geosynchronous Orbits (GEO), due to limitations of SST and GEODSS system implementation. This research explores a reliable, ground-based technique used to quickly determine an RSO’s altitude from a single or limited set of observations. Implementation of such sensors into the SSN would mitigate GEO SSA performance gaps. The research entails a method used to distinguish between the point spread function (PSF) observed by a star and the PSF observed from an RSO by using Multi-Hypothesis Testing with parallax as a test criterion. Parallax is the effect that an observed object will appear to shift when viewed from different positions. This effect is explored by generating PSFs from telescope observations of space objects at different baselines. The research has shown the PSF of an RSO can be distinguished from that of a star using single, simultaneous observations from reference and parallax sensing telescopes. This report validates these techniques with both simulations and experimental data from the SST and Naval Observatory sensors

    Determinants of Occupational Injuries Among Building Construction Workers in Kampala City, Uganda

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    Background Globally, about 1000 people die and close to 860,000 people sustain injury at work daily. Injury prevention and control require contextual evidence, although most studies in Uganda have focused on general causes. Factors associated with occupational injuries among building construction workers were assessed in this study. Methods A cross-sectional study among building construction workers was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. A standardized semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Three hundred nineteen (319) participants were randomly and proportionately selected from 57 construction sites. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables while generalized linear modeling was used to estimate the crude/adjusted prevalence ratios. Results The prevalence of occupational injuries was 32.4%. Most injuries, approximately 70% occurred among nightshift workers. Age of ≤24 years (APR: 2.09 CI: 1.20–3.65, P = 0.009); daily income in or above the second quartile−USD ≥3.2 (APR: 1.72, CI: 1.06–2.80, P = 0.028); job dissatisfaction (APR: 1.63, CI: 1.17–2.27, P = 0.004); job stress (APR: 1.72, CI: 1.22–2.41, P = 0.004); poor safety environment (APR: 1.51, CI: 1.10–2.05, P = 0.009); PPE provision (APR: 1.47, CI: 1.05–2.05, P = 0.02) and routine use of PPE (APR: 0.57, CI: 0.34–0.95, P = 0.03) were significantly associated with occupational injuries. Conclusion There was a relatively high prevalence of injuries mostly resulting from cuts and mostly suffered on night duty. Upper and lower extremities were the most hurt parts of the body during injury leading to loss of a substantial number of productive days. This could affect the health and wellbeing of construction workers. Most of the factors significantly associated with occupational injuries are modifiable thus an opportunity to address the problem. Efforts towards integrating education for behaviour change, advocacy and training workers to demand for their rights to safe and protection at work and legislation enforcement can help reduce occupational injury occurrence

    Muon-Spin Rotation Measurements of an Unusual Vortex-Glass Phase in the Layered Superconductor Bi2.15Sr1.85CaCu2O8+δ

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    Muon-spin rotation measurements, performed on the mixed state of the classic anisotropic superconductor Bi2.15Sr1.85CaCu2O8+δ, obtain quantities directly related to two- and three-body correlations of vortices in space. A novel phase diagram emerges from such local probe measurements of the bulk, revealing an unusual glassy state at intermediate fields which appears to freeze continuously from the equilibrium vortex liquid but differs both from the lattice and the conventional high-field vortex glass state in its structure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
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