Shock Breakout in Type II Plateau Supernovae: Prospects for High Redshift Supernova Surveys

Shock breakout is the brightest radiative phenomenon in a supernova (SN) but is difficult to be observed owing to the short duration and X-ray/ultraviolet (UV)-peaked spectra. After the first observation from the rising phase reported in 2008, its observability at high redshift is attracting enormous attention. We perform multigroup radiation hydrodynamics calculations of explosions for evolutionary presupernova models with various main-sequence masses $M_{\rm MS}$, metallicities $Z$, and explosion energies $E$. We present multicolor light curves of shock breakout in Type II plateau SNe, being the most frequent core-collapse SNe, and predict apparent multicolor light curves of shock breakout at various redshifts $z$. We derive the observable SN rate and reachable redshift as functions of filter $x$ and limiting magnitude $m_{x,{\rm lim}}$ by taking into account an initial mass function, cosmic star formation history, intergalactic absorption, and host galaxy extinction. We propose a realistic survey strategy optimized for shock breakout. For example, the $g'$-band observable SN rate for $m_{g',{\rm lim}}=27.5$ mag is 3.3 SNe degree$^{-2}$ day$^{-1}$ and a half of them locates at $z\geq1.2$. It is clear that the shock breakout is a beneficial clue to probe high-$z$ core-collapse SNe. We also establish ways to identify shock breakout and constrain SN properties from the observations of shock breakout, brightness, time scale, and color. We emphasize that the multicolor observations in blue optical bands with $\sim$ hour intervals, preferably over $\geq2$ continuous nights, are essential to efficiently detect, identify, and interpret shock breakout.Comment: 26 pages, 23 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

Fast-track referral for health interventions during pregnancy: study protocol of a randomised pragmatic experimental study to reduce low birth weight in Portugal (STOP LBW)

Introduction Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with a wide range of short-term and long-term consequences and is related to maternal psychosocial and behavioural determinants. The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of implementing fast-track referral for early intervention on psychosocial and behavioural risk factors—smoking, alcohol consumption, depression and physical violence—in reducing the incidence of LBW. Methods and analysis Parallel superiority pragmatic clinical trial randomised by clusters. Primary healthcare units (PHCU) located in Portugal will be randomised (1:1) to intervention or control groups. Pregnant women over 18 years of age attending these PHCU will be eligible to the study. Risk factors will be assessed through face-to-face interviews. In the intervention group, women who report at least one risk factor will have immediate access to referral services. The comparison group will be the local standard of care for these risk factors. We will use intention-to-treat analyses to compare intervention and control groups. We estimated a sample size of 2832 pregnant women to detect a 30% reduction in the incidence rate of LBW between the control and intervention groups. Secondary outcomes are the reduction of preterm births, reduction of the four risk factors and acceptance of the intervention. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Public Health Institute of the University of Porto (no CE20140). The findings will be disseminated to the public, the funders, health professionals, health managers and other researchers.This project was funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation under the Knowledge Challenge 'The Importance of the Right Weight at Birth'. Sponsor contact information: HB. ISPUP. [email protected]

Soliton absorption spectroscopy

We analyze optical soliton propagation in the presence of weak absorption lines with much narrower linewidths as compared to the soliton spectrum width using the novel perturbation analysis technique based on an integral representation in the spectral domain. The stable soliton acquires spectral modulation that follows the associated index of refraction of the absorber. The model can be applied to ordinary soliton propagation and to an absorber inside a passively modelocked laser. In the latter case, a comparison with water vapor absorption in a femtosecond Cr:ZnSe laser yields a very good agreement with experiment. Compared to the conventional absorption measurement in a cell of the same length, the signal is increased by an order of magnitude. The obtained analytical expressions allow further improving of the sensitivity and spectroscopic accuracy making the soliton absorption spectroscopy a promising novel measurement technique.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures

Statistical analysis of the factors of information society development in the Russian Federation

The article summarises the system of indicators characterising the development of the information society. A generalising characteristic of the subjects of the Russian Federation was given for each of the 23 indicators, which made it possible to identify regions with different fluctuations of the trait. All indicators have been formed into four factors: human capital, innovation potential, information and communication infrastructure and access, and the economic environment. According to the indicators included in each group, the corresponding subindexes have been calculated. Ratings of regions according to the value of sub-indices have been compiled. Based on the values of the sub-indices, the integral indicator characterising the development of the information society has been calculated. The leading and lagging subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of its significance have been identified. In order to identify regions that are homogeneous in terms of the level of development of the information society, their grouping has been carried out

Competence analysis of artificial intelligence professionals

In the conditions of digitalisation, it is necessary to have the appropriate skills. Therefore, many applicants choose occupations in which information technology (IT) and programming knowledge is predominant. Comprehensive measures for preparing graduates in the context of digitalisation cover the formation of appropriate educational programmes. The aim of the study is to provide recommendations for improving the educational process in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning based on comparing various programmes affecting the training of professionals in this field. The research uses the following methods. First, it is a sample survey, due to which 4 Russian universities that provide training in programmes in IT, are selected. Second, this is grouping and typology of basic educational curricula, professional standards and disciplines, due to which appropriate typological groupings, are constructed. That allows specifying requirements for knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for specialists in the field of AI. A comparative analysis of professional standards taking into account the work of a modern specialist with digital skills has been carried out. The competence approach in the educational process has been defined, and the need for a professional standard for IT specialists has been identified. Based on the results obtained, recommendations have been prepared on the basic disciplines that need to be included in the educational programmes of universities to prepare competitive graduates

Implementation of digital competencies in higher education educational programs in Russia

In the context of digitalisation, the transformation of the educational process is inevitable and is a priority issue for any country that wants to maintain or improve its position on the world stage. The article presents a comparative analysis of digital competencies and the possibility of their implementation in the higher education system in Russia. The comparison of the formulated competencies in the methodology approved by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 41 dated January 24, 2020, as well as the International Telecommunication Union and other European organisations is considered. The descriptors (knowledge, skills and abilities) of graduates in various fields who, in the era of digitalisation, must have the necessary digital competencies are identified. Today, professional standards, even in the humanities, define the requirements for technical and computer skills. The article proposes formulations of universal competencies in the higher education system based on the analysis

«Green Economy», Nuclear Energy and "Natural Capitalism": Dialectics of Development

The article reveals the content of the concepts of "green economy"and "natural capitalism", the history of their appearance in science and the modern semantic context. The role of the idea of coevolution of the modern biosphere and the processes of transformation of traditional biogeocenoses into anthropobiogeocenoses with a decisive human influence in them is revealed. The risks of nuclear energy development and the state of the "green economy"are compared. The necessity of a more active formation of a new type of economy - an ecological economy that meets the tasks of reproduction of the natural environment is put forward and justified. The initial step on this path should be the adoption of the "Environmental Code"of the Russian Federation and the humanitarian reformatting of the thinking of the person based on ecological culture and ecological consciousness. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Circular Economy and Environmental Safety in a New Social Reality

The problem of ensuring environmental safety in our country in the conditions of increasing macroeconomic instability and risks in the sphere of national and world economy puts on the agenda the need to move to a new model of social and economic development - "circular economy"or "closed-loop economy". This model makes it possible to minimize the external negative effects on the part of economic entities and their impact on the environment and, conversely, the consequences of man-made externalities in the environment on the human. In this regard, the analysis and assessment of such a relationship between the economy and the environment, as well as the identification and assessment of these externalities, make it possible to formulate a number of recommendations to strengthen environmental safety and transition to a qualitatively new type of sustainable development. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Influence of metal containing nanocomposites on the kinetics of microbial population development

Magnetic nanoparticles are promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Studies have been conducted to study the effect of iron-containing nanoparticles at concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 maximum tolerated dose for total iron on the growth and development of the microbial population of E.coli. On the basis of the obtained results, it was found that nanoparticles affect the growth characteristics of E.coli, related to human gram-negative prokaryotic microflora. The level of biological activity of nanoparticles depends on their concentration. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 18-19-00090In part this research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation, grant number 18-19-00090

Regeneration limit of classical Shannon capacity

Since Shannon derived the seminal formula for the capacity of the additive linear white Gaussian noise channel, it has commonly been interpreted as the ultimate limit of error-free information transmission rate. However, the capacity above the corresponding linear channel limit can be achieved when noise is suppressed using nonlinear elements; that is, the regenerative function not available in linear systems. Regeneration is a fundamental concept that extends from biology to optical communications. All-optical regeneration of coherent signal has attracted particular attention. Surprisingly, the quantitative impact of regeneration on the Shannon capacity has remained unstudied. Here we propose a new method of designing regenerative transmission systems with capacity that is higher than the corresponding linear channel, and illustrate it by proposing application of the Fourier transform for efficient regeneration of multilevel multidimensional signals. The regenerative Shannon limit -the upper bound of regeneration efficiency -is derived