Searching for a Cosmological Preferred Axis: Union2 Data Analysis and Comparison with Other Probes

We review, compare and extend recent studies searching for evidence for a preferred cosmological axis. We start from the Union2 SnIa dataset and use the hemisphere comparison method to search for a preferred axis in the data. We find that the hemisphere of maximum accelerating expansion rate is in the direction $(l,b)=({309^\circ}^{+23^\circ}_{-3^\circ}, {18^\circ}^{+11^\circ}_{-10^\circ})$ (\omm=0.19) while the hemisphere of minimum acceleration is in the opposite direction $(l,b)=({129^\circ}^{+23^\circ}_{-3^\circ},{-18^\circ}^{+10^\circ}_{-11^\circ})$ (\omm=0.30). The level of anisotropy is described by the normalized difference of the best fit values of \omm between the two hemispheres in the context of \lcdm fits. We find a maximum anisotropy level in the Union2 data of \frac{\Delta \ommax}{\bomm}=0.43\pm 0.06. Such a level does not necessarily correspond to statistically significant anisotropy because it is reproduced by about $30$ of simulated isotropic data mimicking the best fit Union2 dataset. However, when combined with the axes directions of other cosmological observations (bulk velocity flow axis, three axes of CMB low multipole moments and quasar optical polarization alignment axis), the statistical evidence for a cosmological anisotropy increases dramatically. We estimate the probability that the above independent six axes directions would be so close in the sky to be less than $1$. Thus either the relative coincidence of these six axes is a very large statistical fluctuation or there is an underlying physical or systematic reason that leads to their correlation.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Accepted in JCAP (to appear). Extended analysis with redshift tomography of SnIa, included errorbars and increased number of axes. The Mathematica 7 files with the data used for the production of the figures along with a Powerpoint file with additional figures may be downloaded from http://leandros.physics.uoi.gr/anisotrop

Mechanical Behavior and Microstructural Development of Low-Carbon Steel and Microcomposite Steel Reinforcement Bars Deformed under Quasi-Static and Dynamic Shear Loading

Reinforcement bars of microcomposite (MC) steel, composed of lath martensite and minor amounts of retained austenite, possess improved strength and corrosion characteristics over low-carbon (LC) steel rebar; however, their performance under shear loading has not previously been investigated at the microstructural level. In this study, LC and MC steel cylinders were compression tested, and specimens machined into a forced-shear geometry were subjected to quasi-static and dynamic shear loading to determine their shear behavior as a function of the strain and strain rate. The as-received and sheared microstructures were examined using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Higher-resolution microstructural examinations were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence of the starting microstructure on the shear behavior was found to depend strongly on the strain rate; the MC steel exhibited not only greater strain-rate sensitivity than the LC steel but also a greater resistance to shear localization with load. In both steels, despite differences in the starting microstructure, post-mortem observations were consistent with a continuous mechanism operating within adiabatic shear bands (ASBs), in which subgrains rotated into highly misoriented grains containing a high density of dislocations

Star clusters near and far; tracing star formation across cosmic time

© 2020 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00690-x.Star clusters are fundamental units of stellar feedback and unique tracers of their host galactic properties. In this review, we will first focus on their constituents, i.e.\ detailed insight into their stellar populations and their surrounding ionised, warm, neutral, and molecular gas. We, then, move beyond the Local Group to review star cluster populations at various evolutionary stages, and in diverse galactic environmental conditions accessible in the local Universe. At high redshift, where conditions for cluster formation and evolution are more extreme, we are only able to observe the integrated light of a handful of objects that we believe will become globular clusters. We therefore discuss how numerical and analytical methods, informed by the observed properties of cluster populations in the local Universe, are used to develop sophisticated simulations potentially capable of disentangling the genetic map of galaxy formation and assembly that is carried by globular cluster populations.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its association with lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women over 18 years old : results from the Colombian Overactive Bladder and Lower urinary Tract symptoms (COBaLT) study

Q1Q3Artículo original1576-1578Introduction & Objectives: There is an age-independent association between sexual dysfunction (SD) and LUTS. Few studies have been conducted in Latin America addressing these issues. We aim to determine the prevalence of SD and its association with LUTS in Colombia. Materials & Methods: This is a sub-analysis of a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in subjects ≥18 years old to evaluate LUTS and overactive bladder (OAB). A sample size of 1,054 subjects was estimated (prevalence of LUTS/OAB 15%, CI 95%, statistical power 80%, precision 3%). We used a multi-stage probabilistic sampling technique to randomly select individuals in the community. SD was defined as ≤21 points in the SHIM and ≤19 in the FSFI-6. For LUTS, we used the 2002 ICS definitions and validated questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. Results: We included 1,060 participants. Sixty-three (12%) men and 175 (33%) women were sexually inactive. The prevalence of SD was 47% (men 53%, women 39%). The most common SD symptoms were diminished erection maintenance after penetration in men (13%) and poor lubrication in women (43%). Individuals with SD had higher rates of LUTS (Figure 1). Patients with moderate-to-severe LUTS had lower sexual satisfaction rates (men 89% vs 95%, women 72% vs 88%). The multivariate logistic regression model found that diabetes (DM), menopause, urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and nocturia>2 were associated with SD in women. In men, age, depression, high-school education or less and LUTS were associated with SD (Table 1)

Light on the moth-eye corneal nipple array of butterflies

The outer surface of the facet lenses in the compound eyes of moths consists of an array of excessive cuticular protuberances, termed corneal nipples. We have investigated the moth-eye corneal nipple array of the facet lenses of 19 diurnal butterfly species by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope, as well as by optical modelling. The nipples appeared to be arranged in domains with almost crystalline, hexagonal packing. The nipple distances were found to vary only slightly, ranging from about 180 to 240 nm, but the nipple heights varied between 0 (papilionids) and 230 nm (a nymphalid), in good agreement with previous work. The nipples create an interface with a gradient refractive index between that of air and the facet lens material, because their distance is distinctly smaller than the wavelength of light. The gradient in the refractive index was deduced from effective medium theory. By dividing the height of the nipple layer into 100 thin slices, an optical multilayer model could be applied to calculate the reflectance of the facet lenses as a function of height, polarization and angle of incidence. The reflectance progressively diminished with increased nipple height. Nipples with a paraboloid shape and height 250 nm, touching each other at the base, virtually completely reduced the reflectance for normally incident light. The calculated dependence of the reflectance on polarization and angle of incidence agreed well with experimental data, underscoring the validity of the modelling. The corneal nipples presumably mainly function to reduce the eye glare of moths that are inactive during the day, so to make them less visible for predators. Moths are probably ancestral to the diurnal butterflies, suggesting that the reduced size of the nipples of most butterfly species indicates a vanishing trait. This effect is extreme in papilionids, which have virtually absent nipples, in line with their highly developed status. A similar evolutionary development can be noticed for the tapetum of the ommatidia of lepidopteran eyes. It is most elaborate in moth-eyes, but strongly reduced in most diurnal butterflies and absent in papilionids

Factors Related to Contraceptive Methods among Female Higher Education Students in Greece

Study Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence of contraceptive methods and identify factors associated with the use of contraception by Greek female higher education students. Design: Cross-sectional epidemiologic survey on the factors determining the use of contraception among higher educational students. Subject: 3,624 female students between 18 and 26 years of age. Main Outcome Measures: We used primary individualized data drawn from a survey carried among female college students in Greece. The dependent dichotomous variables were the responses &quot;YES&quot; or &quot;NO&quot; to the question: &quot;During the last 12 months, what contraceptive method have you generally used in your sexual intercourses?&quot; The methods were male condoms, oral contraceptive use (OCs) and emergency contraception (EC). The independent variables which were analysed in this survey were socio-demographic characteristics, variables related to lifestyle and variables associated with sexual habits. Results: Condom was the most widely used (53.87%). The variables associated independently and significantly with a greater likelihood of the use of condoms were condom use at first sexual intercourse, occupational status and higher educational level of parents. As for OCs, those who had relationship, had more than 2 sexual lifetime partners and had ever visited gynecologist (OR 6.40; 95%CI 2.80-9.40) was more likely to use. For the use of EC, those who were older, had relationship, were smokers and had more than 2 sexual lifetime partners (OR 2.15; 95%CI 1.75-2.64), was more likely to use this method. Conclusions: Condom is the most used contraceptive method among female higher educational students in Greece, followed by EC. The variable most strongly associated with use of the OCs was a gynecologist visit. The factors associated with use of EC were having more than 2 sexual partners, smoking, and having a stable sexual partner. © 2013 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

Supplementary Material for: Impact of Rectal Swabs on Infectious Complications after Transrectal Prostate Biopsy

<p><b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To determine the impact of rectal swabs (RSs) on infectious complications (IC) following prostate biopsy (PB). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A retrospective cohort study was conducted including all patients subjected to PB between 2009 and 2013. Group B consisted of patients with a RS and group A of patients without. RS reported the presence of gram-positive or negative germs, sensitive or resistant to ciprofloxacin. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was adjusted to the result. Frequency of IC in each group was determined. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Group B had 548 (47.20%) patients and group A 613 (52.80%). From group B, 250 (45.62%) of the RSs showed fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant germs. Forty nine (16.44%) patients with sensitive germs vs. 147 (59.51%) with resistant germs had a history of previous FQ treatment (p < 0.0001). IC were observed in 33 (5.49%) patients from group A and in 7 (1.28%) patients from group B (p < 0.0001), requiring hospitalization in 4.99 vs. 1.28%, respectively. IC and hospital admissions were reduced in 76.68 and 74.34%, respectively, following the implementation of RS. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> RS and targeted antibiotic prophylaxis prior to PB was associated with a significant reduction in IC and hospital admissions. Ceftriaxone could be an alternative in cases of known resistance. Past history of FQ treatment is associated with increased resistance.</p