Looking for timing variations in the transits of 16 exoplanets

We update the ephemerides of 16 transiting exoplanets using our ground-based observations, new Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data, and previously published observations including those of amateur astronomers. All these light curves were modelled by making use of a set of quantitative criteria with the exofast code to obtain mid-transit times. We searched for statistically significant secular and/or periodic trends in the mid-transit times. We found that the timing data are well modelled by a linear ephemeris for all systems except for XO-2 b, for which we detect an orbital decay with the rate of -12.95 +/- 1.85 ms yr(-1) that can be confirmed with future observations. We also detect a hint of potential periodic variations in the transit timing variation data of HAT-P-13 b, which also requires confirmation with further precise observations

Optical identification and follow-up observations of SRGA J213151.5+491400 -- a new magnetic cataclysmic variable discovered with SRG Observatory

We report results of optical identification and multi-wavelength study of a new polar-type magnetic cataclysmic variable (MCV), SRGA J213151.5+491400, discovered by Spectrum Roentgen-Gamma ($SRG$) observatory in the course of the all-sky survey. We present optical data from telescopes in Turkey (RTT-150 and T100 at the T\"UBITAK National Observatory), and in Russia (6-m and 1-m at SAO RAS), together with the X-ray data obtained with $ART-XC$ and $eROSITA$ telescopes aboard $SRG$ and the $NICER$ observatory. We detect SRGA J213151.5+491400 in a high state in 2020 (17.9 mag) that decreases about 3 mag into a low state (21 mag) in 2021. We find only one significant period using optical photometric time series analysis which reveals the white dwarf spin/orbital period to be 0.059710(1) days (85.982 min). The long slit spectroscopy in the high state yields a power law continuum increasing towards the blue with a prominent He II line along with the Balmer line emissions with no cyclotron humps; consistent with MCV nature. Doppler Tomography confirms the polar nature revealing ballistic stream accretion along with magnetic stream during the high state. These characteristics show that the new source is a polar-type MCV. $SRG$ $ART-XC$ detections yield an X-ray flux of (4.0-7.0)$\times$10$^{-12}$ erg cm$^2$ s$^{-1}$ in the high state. $eROSITA$ detects a dominating hot plasma component (kT$_{\rm{max}}$ $>$ 21 keV in the high state) declining to (4.0-6.0)$\times$10$^{-13}$ erg cm$^2$ s$^{-1}$ in 2021 (low state). The $NICER$ data obtained in the low state reveal a two-pole accretor showing a soft X-ray component at (6-7)$\sigma$ significance with a blackbody temperature of 15-18 eV. A soft X-ray component has never been detected for a polar in the low state before.Comment: 16 pages, 4 Tables and 15 Figures. Accepted for publication in A&A as it stand

Homogeneous transit timing analyses of ten exoplanet systems

We study the transit timings of 10 exoplanets in order to investigate potential transit timing variations in them. We model their available ground-based light curves, some presented here and others taken from the literature, and homogeneously measure the mid-transit times. We statistically compare our results with published values and find that the measurement errors agree. However, in terms of recovering the possible frequencies, homogeneous sets can be found to be more useful, of which no statistically relevant example has been found for the planets in our study. We corrected the ephemeris information of all 10 planets we studied and provide these most precise light elements as references for future transit observations with space-borne and ground-based instruments. We found no evidence for secular or periodic changes in the orbital periods of the planets in our sample, including the ultra-short period WASP-103 b, whose orbit is expected to decay on an observable time-scale. Therefore, we derive the lower limits for the reduced tidal quality factors (Q(*)') for the host stars based on best-fitting quadratic functions to their timing data. We also present a global model of all available data for WASP-74 b, which has a Gaia parallax-based distance value similar to 25 per cent larger than the published value

A microwave kinetic inductance detector for the DAG telescope

We present the details of a proposed microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) for the DAG (Eastern Anatolia Observatory in Turkish) telescope, DAG-MKID. The observatory will have a modern 4m size telescope that is currently under construction. Current plan to obtain the first light with the telescope is late 2019. The proposed MKID based instrument will enable astronomers to simultaneously detect photons in the relatively wide wavelength range of 4000-13500 Å with a timing accuracy of μs and spectral resolution R = /▵ =10-25. With a planned field of view of approximately an arcminute, DAG-MKID will mostly be used for follow-up observations of transient or variable objects as well as a robust tool to measure photometric redshifts of a large number of galaxies or other extra-galactic objects.Publisher's Versio

Looking for timing variations in the transits of 16 exoplanets

We update the ephemerides of 16 transiting exoplanets using our ground-based observations, new TESS data, and previously published observations including those of amateur astronomers. All these light curves were modeled by making use of a set of quantitative criteria with the exofast code to obtain mid-transit times. We searched for statistically significant secular and/or periodic trends in the mid-transit times. We found that the timing data are well modeled by a linear ephemeris for all systems except for XO-2 b, for which we detect an orbital decay with the rate of -12.95 ± 1.85 ms/yr that can be confirmed with future observations. We also detect a hint of potential periodic variations in the TTV data of HAT-P-13 b which also requires confirmation with further precise observations

Optimization of a 65 nm CMOS imaging process for monolithic CMOS sensors for high energy physics

The long term goal of the CERN Experimental Physics Department R&D; on monolithic sensorsis the development of sub-100nm CMOS sensors for high energy physics. The first technologyselected is the TPSCo 65nm CMOS imaging technology. A first submission MLR1 includedseveral small test chips with sensor and circuit prototypes and transistor test structures. One ofthe main questions to be addressed was how to optimize the sensor in the presence of significantin-pixel circuitry. In this paper this optimization is described as well as the experimental resultsfrom the MLR1 run confirming its effectiveness. A second submission investigating wafer-scalestitching has just been completed. This work has been carried out in strong synergy with the ITS3upgrade of the ALICE experiment

Optimization of a 65 nm CMOS imaging process for monolithic CMOS sensors for high energy physics

International audienceThe long term goal of the CERN Experimental Physics Department R&D on monolithic sensorsis the development of sub-100nm CMOS sensors for high energy physics. The first technologyselected is the TPSCo 65nm CMOS imaging technology. A first submission MLR1 includedseveral small test chips with sensor and circuit prototypes and transistor test structures. One ofthe main questions to be addressed was how to optimize the sensor in the presence of significantin-pixel circuitry. In this paper this optimization is described as well as the experimental resultsfrom the MLR1 run confirming its effectiveness. A second submission investigating wafer-scalestitching has just been completed. This work has been carried out in strong synergy with the ITS3upgrade of the ALICE experiment

Safety and efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce ileus after colorectal surgery

Background: Ileus is common after elective colorectal surgery, and is associated with increased adverse events and prolonged hospital stay. The aim was to assess the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for reducing ileus after surgery. Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study was delivered by an international, student- and trainee-led collaborative group. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The primary outcome was time to gastrointestinal recovery, measured using a composite measure of bowel function and tolerance to oral intake. The impact of NSAIDs was explored using Cox regression analyses, including the results of a centre-specific survey of compliance to enhanced recovery principles. Secondary safety outcomes included anastomotic leak rate and acute kidney injury. Results: A total of 4164 patients were included, with a median age of 68 (i.q.r. 57\u201375) years (54\ub79 per cent men). Some 1153 (27\ub77 per cent) received NSAIDs on postoperative days 1\u20133, of whom 1061 (92\ub70 per cent) received non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. After adjustment for baseline differences, the mean time to gastrointestinal recovery did not differ significantly between patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not (4\ub76 versus 4\ub78 days; hazard ratio 1\ub704, 95 per cent c.i. 0\ub796 to 1\ub712; P = 0\ub7360). There were no significant differences in anastomotic leak rate (5\ub74 versus 4\ub76 per cent; P = 0\ub7349) or acute kidney injury (14\ub73 versus 13\ub78 per cent; P = 0\ub7666) between the groups. Significantly fewer patients receiving NSAIDs required strong opioid analgesia (35\ub73 versus 56\ub77 per cent; P < 0\ub7001). Conclusion: NSAIDs did not reduce the time for gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery, but they were safe and associated with reduced postoperative opioid requirement