10,111 research outputs found
Computer program generates averaged value data tapes
Computer program generates a magnetic output tape containing time and averaged data values of a specified number of major frames over a specified time interval. A decommutation system is used to acquire the raw data, which is then reformatted and averaged
First Detection of Millimeter Dust Emission from Brown Dwarf Disks
We report results from the first deep millimeter continuum survey targeting
Brown Dwarfs (BDs). The survey led to the first detection of cold dust in the
disks around two young BDs (CFHT-BD-Tau 4 and IC348 613), with deep JCMT and
IRAM observations reaching flux levels of a few mJy. The dust masses are
estimated to be a few Earth masses assuming the same dust opacities as usually
applied to TTauri stars.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for ApJ
LBT/MODS spectroscopy of globular clusters in the irregular galaxy NGC 4449
We present intermediate-resolution (R1000) spectra in the
3500-10,000 A range of 14 globular clusters in the magellanic irregular
galaxy NGC 4449 acquired with the Multi Object Double Spectrograph on the Large
Binocular Telescope. We derived Lick indices in the optical and the
CaII-triplet index in the near-infrared in order to infer the clusters' stellar
population properties. The inferred cluster ages are typically older than
9 Gyr, although ages are derived with large uncertainties. The clusters
exhibit intermediate metallicities, in the range
[Fe/H], and typically sub-solar []
ratios, with a peak at . These properties suggest that i) during the
first few Gyrs NGC 4449 formed stars slowly and inefficiently, with galactic
winds having possibly contributed to the expulsion of the -elements,
and ii) globular clusters in NGC 4449 formed relatively "late", from a medium
already enriched in the products of type Ia supernovae. The majority of
clusters appear also under-abundant in CN compared to Milky Way halo globular
clusters, perhaps because of the lack of a conspicuous N-enriched,
second-generation of stars like that observed in Galactic globular clusters.
Using the cluster velocities, we infer the dynamical mass of NGC 4449 inside
2.88 kpc to be M(2.88 kpc)=. We
also report the serendipitous discovery of a planetary nebula within one of the
targeted clusters, a rather rare event.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; corrected typo in author lis
Effect of position on intracranial pressure and compliance: a cross-sectional study including 101 patients
OBJECTIVE: A better understanding of the effect of position on intracranial pressure (ICP) and compliance is important for the development of treatment strategies that can restore normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. There is limited knowledge on the effect of position on intracranial compliance. In this cross-sectional study the authors tested the association of pulse amplitude (PA) with position and the day/night cycle. Additionally, they describe the postural ICP and PA changes of patients with “normal” ICP dynamics. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included patients with suspected and/or confirmed CSF dynamics abnormalities who had been examined with elective 24-hour ICP monitoring between October 2017 and September 2019. Patients had been enrolled in a short exercise battery including four positions: supine, lumbar puncture position in the left lateral decubitus position, sitting, and standing. Each position was maintained for 2 minutes, and mean ICP and PA were calculated for each position. The 24-hour day and night median ICP and PA data were also collected. Linear regression models were used to test the correlation of PA with position and day/night cycle. All linear regressions were corrected for confounders. The postural ICP monitoring results of patients without obvious ICP dynamics abnormality were summarized. RESULTS: One hundred one patients (24 males and 77 females) with a mean age of 39 ± 13years (mean ± standard deviation) were included in the study. The adjusted linear regression models demonstrated a significant association of ICP with position and day/night cycle, with upright (sitting and standing) and day ICP values lower than supine and night ICP values. The adjusted linear regression model was also significant for the association of PA with position and day/night cycle, with upright and day PA values higher than supine and night PA results. These associations were confirmed for patients with and without shunts. Patients without clear ICP dynamics abnormality had tighter control of their postural ICP changes than the other patients; however, the difference among groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study investigating the effect of postural changes on intracranial compliance. The results of this study suggest that PA, as well as ICP, is significantly associated with posture, increasing in upright positions compared to that while supine. Further studies will be needed to investigate the mechanism behind this association
Monitoring Breast Cancer Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Using Ultrasound Strain Elastography
© 2019 The Authors Strain elastography was used to monitor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in 92 patients with biopsy-proven, locally advanced breast cancer. Strain elastography data were collected before, during, and after NAC. Relative changes in tumor strain ratio (SR) were calculated over time, and responder status was classified according to tumor size changes. Statistical analyses determined the significance of changes in SR over time and between response groups. Machine learning techniques, such as a naïve Bayes classifier, were used to evaluate the performance of the SR as a marker for Miller-Payne pathological endpoints. With pathological complete response (pCR) as an endpoint, a significant difference (P < .01) in the SR was observed between response groups as early as 2 weeks into NAC. Naïve Bayes classifiers predicted pCR with a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 85%, and area under the curve of 81% at the preoperative scan. This study demonstrates that strain elastography may be predictive of NAC response in locally advanced breast cancer as early as 2 weeks into treatment, with high sensitivity and specificity, granting it the potential to be used for active monitoring of tumor response to chemotherapy
A Survey for Circumstellar Disks Around Young Substellar Objects
(Abridged) We have completed the first systematic survey for disks around
spectroscopically identified young brown dwarfs and very low mass stars. We
have obtained L'-band (3.8 um) imaging for 38 very cool objects in IC 348 and
Taurus. Our targets span spectral types from M6 to M9.5 (~100 to ~15 Mjup).
Using the objects' measured spectral types and extinctions, we find that most
of our sample (77%+/-15%) possess intrinsic IR excesses, indicative of disks.
Because the excesses are modest, conventional analyses using only IR colors
would have missed most of the sources with excesses. The observed IR excesses
are correlated with Halpha emission, consistent with a common accretion disk
origin. The excesses can be explained by disk reprocessing of starlight alone;
the implied accretion rates are at least an order of magnitude below typical
values for classical T Tauri stars. The observed distribution of IR excesses
suggests the presence of inner disk holes. The disk frequency appears to be
independent of the mass and age. In the same star-forming regions, disks around
brown dwarfs are at least as long-lived (~3 Myr) as disks around the T Tauri
stars. Altogether, the frequency and properties of young circumstellar disks
appear to be similar from the stellar regime down to the substellar and
planetary-mass regime. This provides prima facie evidence of a common origin
for most stars and brown dwarfs.Comment: ApJ, in press, 28 pages. Minor change to the online, abridged version
of the abstract. No change to the actual pape
Hubble flow variance and the cosmic rest frame
We characterize the radial and angular variance of the Hubble flow in the
COMPOSITE sample of 4534 galaxies, on scales in which much of the flow is in
the nonlinear regime. With no cosmological assumptions other than the existence
of a suitably averaged linear Hubble law, we find with decisive Bayesian
evidence (ln B >> 5) that the Hubble constant averaged in independent spherical
radial shells is closer to its asymptotic value when referred to the rest frame
of the Local Group, rather than the standard rest frame of the Cosmic Microwave
Background. An exception occurs for radial shells in the range 40/h-60/h Mpc.
Angular averages reveal a dipole structure in the Hubble flow, whose amplitude
changes markedly over the range 32/h-62/h Mpc. Whereas the LG frame dipole is
initially constant and then decreases significantly, the CMB frame dipole
initially decreases but then increases. The map of angular Hubble flow
variation in the LG rest frame is found to coincide with that of the residual
CMB temperature dipole, with correlation coefficient -0.92. These results are
difficult to reconcile with the standard kinematic interpretation of the motion
of the Local Group in response to the clustering dipole, but are consistent
with a foreground non-kinematic anisotropy in the distance-redshift relation of
0.5% on scales up to 65/h Mpc. Effectively, the differential expansion of space
produced by nearby nonlinear structures of local voids and denser walls and
filaments cannot be reduced to a local boost. This hypothesis suggests a
reinterpretation of bulk flows, which may potentially impact on calibration of
supernovae distances, anomalies associated with large angles in the CMB
anisotropy spectrum, and the dark flow inferred from the kinematic
Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect. It is consistent with recent studies that find
evidence for a non-kinematic dipole in the distribution of distant radio
sources.Comment: 37 pages, 9 tables, 13 figures; v2 adds extensive new analysis
(including additional subsections, tables, figures); v3 adds a Monte Carlo
analysis (with additional table, figure) which further tightens the
statistical robustness of the dipole results; v4 adds further clarifications,
small corrections, references and discussion of Planck satellite results; v5
typos fixed, matches published versio
Efficacy of a self-help manual in increasing resilience in carers of adults with depression in Thailand
Caring for a person with a mental illness can have adverse effects on caregivers; however, little is known about how best to help such caregivers. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of a cognitive behaviour therapy-guided self-help manual in increasing resilience in caregivers of individuals with depression, in comparison to caregivers who receive routine support only. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted, following CONSORT guidelines, with 54 caregivers allocated to parallel intervention (self-help manual) (n = 27) or control (standard support) (n = 27) groups. Resilience was assessed at baseline, post-test (week 8), and follow up (week 12). Intention-to-treat analyses were undertaken. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a significant difference in resilience scores between the three time points, showing a large effect. Pairwise comparisons between intervention and control groups indicated resilience to be significantly different between baseline and post-test, and between baseline and follow up, but not between post-test and follow up. Overall, the intervention group showed a slightly greater increase in resilience over time than the control group; however, the time–group interaction was not significant. Guided self-help is helpful in improving caregivers’ resilience and could be used as an adjunct to the limited support provided to carers by mental health nurses and other clinicians
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Technology Review of Nondestructive Methods for Examination of Water Intrusion Areas on Hanford’s Double-Shell Waste Tanks
Under a contract with CH2M Hill Hanford Group, Inc., PNNL has performed a review of the NDE technology and methods for examination of the concrete dome structure of Hanford’s double-shell tanks. The objective was to provide a matrix of methodologies that could be evaluated based on applicability, ease of deployment, and results that could provide information that could be used in the ongoing structural analysis of the tank dome. PNNL performed a technology evaluation with the objective of providing a critical literature review for all applicable technologies based on constraints provided by CH2M HILL. These constraints were not mandatory, but were desired. These constraints included performing the evaluation without removing any soil from the top of the tank, or if necessary, requesting that the hole diameter needed to gain access to evaluate the top of the tank structure to be no greater than approximately 12-in. in diameter. PNNL did not address the details of statistical sampling requirements as they depend on an unspecified risk tolerance. PNNL considered these during the technology evaluation and have reported the results in the remainder of this document. Many of the basic approaches to concrete inspection that were reviewed in previous efforts are still in use. These include electromagnetic, acoustic, radiographic, etc. The primary improvements in these tools have focused on providing quantitative image reconstruction, thus providing inspectors and analysts with three-dimensional data sets that allow for operator visualization of relevant abnormalities and analytical integration into structural performance models. Available instruments, such as radar used for bridge deck inspections, rely on post-processing algorithms and do not provide real-time visualization. Commercially available equipment only provides qualitative indications of relative concrete damage. It cannot be used as direct input for structural analysis to assess fitness for use and if necessary to de-rate critical components. There are currently no tools that automatically convert the NDE data to formats compatible with structural analysis programs. While radiographic techniques still provide significant advantages in spatial resolution, non-ionizing techniques are still preferred. Radar imagining in the 1–5 GHz has become the most useful. Unfortunately the algorithms and underlying assumptions used in these reconstructions are proprietary, and it is not possible to assess the quality and limitations of the analytical methods used to generate the derived structural data. The hypothesis that water intrusion may contribute to potential rebar corrosion of the tank domes provided the primary guidance in reviewing and evaluating available NDE technologies. Of primary concern is the need to employ technologies that provide the best opportunity for visualizing the rebar and providing quantitative data that can be integrated into structural analysis efforts to better understand and quantify the structural capacity of the domes. The conclusion is that an imaging system capable of locating and quantifying the distribution and conditions of the cement, aggregate, and rebar will provide the most valuable baseline upon which to build a case for the integrity of the structure. If successful, such a system would fulfill the need to incorporate valuable data into current structural load capacity analysis
LAGEOS-type Satellites in Critical Supplementary Orbit Configuration and the Lense-Thirring Effect Detection
In this paper we analyze quantitatively the concept of LAGEOS--type
satellites in critical supplementary orbit configuration (CSOC) which has
proven capable of yielding various observables for many tests of General
Relativity in the terrestrial gravitational field, with particular emphasis on
the measurement of the Lense--Thirring effect.Comment: LaTex2e, 20 pages, 7 Tables, 6 Figures. Changes in Introduction,
Conclusions, reference added, accepted for publication in Classical and
Quantum Gravit
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