Expected neutrino fluence from short Gamma-Ray Burst 170817A and off-axis angle constraints

We compute the expected neutrino fluence from SGRB 170817A, associated with the gravitational wave event GW 170817, directly based on Fermi observations in two scenarios: structured jet and off-axis (observed) top-hat jet. While the expected neutrino fluence for the structured jet case is very small, large off-axis angles imply high radiation densities in the jet, which can enhance the neutrino production efficiency. In the most optimistic allowed scenario, the neutrino fluence can reach only $10^{-4}$ of the sensitivity of the neutrino telescopes. We furthermore demonstrate that the fact that gamma-rays can escape limits the baryonic loading (energy in protons versus photons) and the off-axis angle for the internal shock scenario. In particular, for a baryonic loading of ten, the off-axis angle is more strongly constrained by the baryonic loading than by the time delay between the gravitational wave event and the onset of the gamma-ray emission.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Cosmogenic Neutrinos Challenge the Cosmic Ray Proton Dip Model

The origin and composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) remain a mystery. The proton dip model describes their spectral shape in the energy range above $10^9$ GeV by pair production and photohadronic interactions with the cosmic microwave background. The photohadronic interactions also produce cosmogenic neutrinos peaking around $10^9$ GeV. We test whether this model is still viable in light of recent UHECR spectrum measurements from the Telescope Array experiment, and upper limits on the cosmogenic neutrino flux from IceCube. While two-parameter fits have been already presented, we perform a full scan of the three main physical model parameters: source redshift evolution, injected proton maximal energy, and spectral index. We find qualitatively different conclusions compared to earlier two-parameter fits in the literature: a mild preference for a maximal energy cutoff at the sources instead of the Greisen--Zatsepin--Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff, hard injection spectra, and strong source evolution. The predicted cosmogenic neutrino flux exceeds the IceCube limit for any parameter combination. As a result, the proton dip model is challenged at more than 95\% C.L. This is strong evidence against this model independent of mass composition measurements.Comment: published in Apj; 15 pages, 12 figure

A new view on Auger data and cosmogenic neutrinos in light of different nuclear disintegration and air-shower models

We study the implications of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) data from the Pierre Auger Observatory for potential accelerator candidates and cosmogenic neutrino fluxes for different combinations of nuclear disintegration and air-shower models. We exploit the most recent spectral and mass composition data (2017) with a new, computationally very efficient simulation code PriNCe. We extend the systematic framework originally developed by the Pierre Auger Collaboration with the cosmological source evolution as an additional free parameter. In this framework, an ensemble of generalized UHECR accelerators is characterized by a universal spectral index (equal for all injection species), a maximal rigidity, and the normalizations for five nuclear element groups. We find that the 2017 data favor a small but constrained contribution of heavy elements (iron) at the source. We demonstrate that the results moderately depend on the nuclear disintegration (PSB, Peanut, or Talys) model, and more strongly on the air-shower (EPOS-LHC, Sibyll-2.3, or QGSjet-II-04) model. Variations of these models result in different source evolutions and spectral indices, limiting the interpretation in terms of a particular class of cosmic accelerators. Better constrained parameters include the maximal rigidity and the mass composition at the source. Hence, the cosmogenic neutrino flux can be robustly predicted, since it originates from interactions with the cosmic infrared background and peaks at $10^8 \, \mathrm{GeV}$. Depending on the source evolution at high redshifts the flux is likely out of reach of future neutrino observatories in most cases, and a minimal cosmogenic neutrino flux cannot be claimed from data without assuming a cosmological distribution of the sources.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Peak systolic velocity using color-coded tissue Doppler imaging, a strong and independent predictor of outcome in acute coronary syndrome patients

BACKGROUND: Traditional echocardiographic methods like left ventricular ejection fraction(EF) and wall motion scoring (WMS) and new methods like speckle tracking (ST) based 2D strain carry important prognostic information in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Parameters from tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), with its high time resolution, may further increase the prognostic value. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the basal segments of the left ventricle from TDI is a robust and user independent parameter. The aim was to investigate the prognostic value of PSV compared to EF, WMS, 2D strain and E/e'. METHODS: Echocardiographic images were collected and post processed in 227 ACS patients. Additional clinical data was prospectively gathered and patients were followed for 3-5 years regarding the combined endpoint of death or re-admission due to ACS or heart failure. RESULTS: The combined endpoint occurred in 85 (37%) patients. Those with an event had lower median PSV than those without (4,4 cm/s) vs. (5,3 cm/s), (p<0.001). In a ROC analysis, the AUC was larger for PSV (0.75) than for EF (0.68), WMS (0.63), 2D strain (0.67) and E/e'(0.70). The combined endpoint increased with decreasing PSV. When adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics in a COX-regression model, PSV remained independently associated with outcome where the others did not. PSV was also less sensitive to image quality with fewer values missing or unacceptable for analysis. CONCLUSION: Peak systolic velocity (PSV) is a robust measurement that seems to have a strong and independent association with outcome compared to traditional echocardiographic measurements in ACS patients

Forest policy communication - from Swedish Forest Agency to non-industrial private forest owners

Skogen har många olika nyttigheter och åsikterna om hur skogen ska brukas är många, detta gör skogen till en politisk fråga. Skogsstyrelsen är den myn-dighet som ansvarar för att skogspolitiken efterlevs och skogsvårdslagen re-glerar hur Sveriges skogar ska skötas. Eftersom skogsvårdslagen är en mini-milag och hälften av all skog ägs av privata skogsägare, är Skogsstyrelsens kommunikation av skogspolitiken till de privata skogsägarna viktig för att uppnå de skogspolitiska målen. Genom att göra en innehållsanalys av tid-ningen Skogseko, som är en stor kommunikationskanal för Skogsstyrelsen, analyseras centrala begrepp kopplade till de två skogspolitiska målen, pro-duktion och miljö. För att avgöra om Skogsstyrelsens kommunikation är an-passad till skogsägaren, görs även en litteraturstudie på de enskilda privata skogsägarnas kunskap om skogsbruk. Resultatet från innehållsanalysen vi-sar att skogsstyrelsen kommunicerar båda målen och att en del av begreppen beskrivs i tidningen. Resultatet från litteraturstudien indikerar att privata en-skilda skogsägare har mindre kunskap om begrepp kopplade till miljömålet än produktionsmålet. Med stöd av teorier från kommunikationsvetenskapen diskuteras om Skogsstyrelsens kommunikation är anpassad till de enskilda privata skogsägarna.The forest has many different utilities and the views about how forest will be managed are many, this makes forestry a political issue. The Swedish Forest Agency is the authority responsible for forestry policy and the For-estry Act regulates how the Swedish forests are managed. Because the For-estry Act is a framework and half of all forest are owned by non-industrial private forest owners, the communication of forest policy to non-industrial private forest owners is important to achieve the goals of forest policy. By doing a content analysis of the newspaper Skogseko, which is a major com-munication channel for the Swedish Forest Agency, key concepts related to the two forest policy goals, production and environment were analyzed. To determine if the Swedish Forest Agency communication is adapted to the non-industrial private forest owner’s knowledge about forestry, a literature study within this subject were done. The results of content analysis show that the Swedish Forest Agency communicates both cases and some of the key concepts are described in the paper. The results of the literature study indicate that non-industrial private forest owners have less knowledge of concepts related to the environmental goal than the production goal. With the support of theories of communication sciences, it is discussed if the communication from Swedish Forest Agency is adapted to the non-indus-trial private forest owners

Evidence for electronically-driven ferroelectricity in the family of strongly correlated dimerized BEDT-TTF molecular conductors

By applying measurements of the dielectric constants and relative length changes to the dimerized molecular conductor $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Hg(SCN)$_2$Cl, we provide evidence for order-disorder type electronic ferroelectricity which is driven by charge order within the (BEDT-TTF)$_2$ dimers and stabilized by a coupling to the anions. According to our density functional theory calculations, this material is characterized by a moderate strength of dimerization. This system thus bridges the gap between strongly dimerized materials, often approximated as dimer-Mott systems at 1/2 filling, and non- or weakly dimerized systems at 1/4 filling exhibiting charge order. Our results indicate that intra-dimer charge degrees of freedom are of particular importance in correlated $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$X salts and can create novel states, such as electronically-driven multiferroicity or charge-order-induced quasi-1D spin liquids.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures + Supplementary Information (8 pages, 8 figures

Improving engineering change management by introducing a standardised description for engineering changes for the automotive wiring harness

Engineering change management is a key part in the development of products that requires a lot of resources and time. A key problem is the lack of a shared ontology to describe engineering changes. This creates problems, additional effort and hinders the digitalisation of the engineering change management. This is especially true for the development of the automotive wiring harness where a low degree of automation together with the occurrence of many changes in a multi-variant system poses a big challenge. A description that is unambiguous, comprehensive and coherent is needed. The research presented in this paper tackles this problem. A standardised description for the engineering change management for the automotive wiring harness is introduced in this publication. The authors outline the approach that has been used to create a systematic description. The validation of the standardised description is based on two approaches: a case study of a development project and an ongoing development project. The validation shows that 94% of all engineering changes can be described in the proposed standardised way. Concepts where the standardised descriptions can be used to improve the engineering change process are outlined at the end of the paper. The paper thereby presents a way that directly improves the engineering change process and the product development process. It enables the further improvement of the engineering change management by providing a basis for an automatic processing, evaluation and implementation of engineering changes

Kinetochore alignment within the metaphase plate is regulated by centromere stiffness and microtubule depolymerases

During mitosis in most eukaryotic cells, chromosomes align and form a metaphase plate halfway between the spindle poles, about which they exhibit oscillatory movement. These movements are accompanied by changes in the distance between sister kinetochores, commonly referred to as breathing. We developed a live cell imaging assay combined with computational image analysis to quantify the properties and dynamics of sister kinetochores in three dimensions. We show that baseline oscillation and breathing speeds in late prometaphase and metaphase are set by microtubule depolymerases, whereas oscillation and breathing periods depend on the stiffness of the mechanical linkage between sisters. Metaphase plates become thinner as cells progress toward anaphase as a result of reduced oscillation speed at a relatively constant oscillation period. The progressive slowdown of oscillation speed and its coupling to plate thickness depend nonlinearly on the stiffness of the mechanical linkage between sisters. We propose that metaphase plate formation and thinning require tight control of the state of the mechanical linkage between sisters mediated by centromeric chromatin and cohesion

How to classify, diagnose, treat and follow-up extragonadal germ cell tumors? A systematic review of available evidence

Purpose To present the current evidence and the development of studies in recent years on the management of extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT). Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline and the Cochrane Library. Studies within the search period (January 2010 to February 2021) that addressed the classifcation, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of extragonadal tumors were included. Risk of bias was assessed and relevant data were extracted in evidence tables. Results The systematic search identifed nine studies. Germ cell tumors (GCT) arise predominantly from within the testis, but about 5% of the tumors are primarily located extragonadal. EGCT are localized primarily mediastinal or retroperitoneal in the midline of the body. EGCT patients are classifed according to the IGCCCG classifcation. Consecutively, all mediastinal non-seminomatous EGCT patients belong to the “poor prognosis” group. In contrast mediastinal seminoma and both retroperitoneal seminoma and non-seminoma patients seem to have a similar prognosis as patients with gonadal GCTs and metastasis at theses respective sites. The standard chemotherapy regimen for patients with a EGCT consists of 3–4 cycles (good vs intermediate prognosis) of bleomycin, etoposid, cisplatin (BEP); however, due to their very poor prognosis patients with non-seminomatous mediastinal GCT should receive a dose-intensifed or high-dose chemotherapy approach upfront on an individual basis and should thus be referred to expert centers Ifosfamide may be exchanged for bleomycin in cases of additional pulmonary metastasis due to subsequently planned resections. In general patients with non-seminomatous EGCT, residual tumor resection (RTR) should be performed after chemotherapy. Conclusion In general, non-seminomatous EGCT have a poorer prognosis compared to testicular GCT, while seminomatous EGGCT seem to have a similar prognosis to patients with metastatic testicular seminoma. The current insights on EGCT are limited, since all data are mainly based on case series and studies with small patient numbers and non-comparative studies. In general, systemic treatment should be performed like in testicular metastatic GCTs but upfront dose intensifcation of chemotherapy should be considered for mediastinal non-seminoma patients. Thus, EGCT should be referred to interdisciplinary centers with utmost experience in the treatment of germ cell tumors

Can magnetic resonance imaging replace conventional computerized tomography for follow-up of patients with testicular cancer? A systematic review

Purpose Follow-up protocols for patients with testicular cancer (TC) have significantly reduced the number of cross-sectional imaging studies to reduce radiation exposure. At present, it is unclear whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could replace conventional computerized tomography (CT) imaging. The objective of this study is to summarize the scientific evidence on this topic and to review guideline recommendations with regard to the use of MRI. Methods A systematic literature review was performed searching Medline and Cochrane databases for prospective studies on patients with TC in the follow-up care (last search in February 2021). Additionally, guideline recommendations for TC were screened. Data extraction and quality assessment of included studies were performed and used for a descriptive presentation of results. Results A total of four studies including two ongoing trials were identified. Overall, the scientific evidence of prospective comparative studies is based on 102 patients. Data suggest that abdominal imaging with MRI can replace conventional CT for detection of lymph node metastasis of the retroperitoneum to spare radiation exposure and contrast media application. However, experienced radiologists are needed. Clinical guidelines are aware of the risk of diagnosis-induced secondary malignancy due to CT imaging and some have adapted their recommendations accordingly. Results of the two ongoing trials on 738 patients are expected soon to provide more reliable results on this topic. Conclusions There is growing evidence that abdominopelvic MRI imaging can replace CT imaging during follow-up of patients with TC in order to reduce radiation exposure and diagnosis-induced secondary malignancy