301 research outputs found
Highlights from the Pierre Auger Observatory
The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world's largest cosmic ray observatory.
Our current exposure reaches nearly 40,000 km str and provides us with an
unprecedented quality data set. The performance and stability of the detectors
and their enhancements are described. Data analyses have led to a number of
major breakthroughs. Among these we discuss the energy spectrum and the
searches for large-scale anisotropies. We present analyses of our X
data and show how it can be interpreted in terms of mass composition. We also
describe some new analyses that extract mass sensitive parameters from the 100%
duty cycle SD data. A coherent interpretation of all these recent results opens
new directions. The consequences regarding the cosmic ray composition and the
properties of UHECR sources are briefly discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, talk given at the 33rd International Cosmic Ray
Conference, Rio de Janeiro 201
A search for point sources of EeV photons
Measurements of air showers made using the hybrid technique developed with
the fluorescence and surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory allow a
sensitive search for point sources of EeV photons anywhere in the exposed sky.
A multivariate analysis reduces the background of hadronic cosmic rays. The
search is sensitive to a declination band from -85{\deg} to +20{\deg}, in an
energy range from 10^17.3 eV to 10^18.5 eV. No photon point source has been
detected. An upper limit on the photon flux has been derived for every
direction. The mean value of the energy flux limit that results from this,
assuming a photon spectral index of -2, is 0.06 eV cm^-2 s^-1, and no celestial
direction exceeds 0.25 eV cm^-2 s^-1. These upper limits constrain scenarios in
which EeV cosmic ray protons are emitted by non-transient sources in the
Galaxy.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Reconstruction of inclined air showers detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory
We describe the method devised to reconstruct inclined cosmic-ray air showers
with zenith angles greater than detected with the surface array of
the Pierre Auger Observatory. The measured signals at the ground level are
fitted to muon density distributions predicted with atmospheric cascade models
to obtain the relative shower size as an overall normalization parameter. The
method is evaluated using simulated showers to test its performance. The energy
of the cosmic rays is calibrated using a sub-sample of events reconstructed
with both the fluorescence and surface array techniques. The reconstruction
method described here provides the basis of complementary analyses including an
independent measurement of the energy spectrum of ultra-high energy cosmic rays
using very inclined events collected by the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of
Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP
The Pierre Auger Observatory III: Other Astrophysical Observations
Astrophysical observations of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the Pierre
Auger ObservatoryComment: Contributions to the 32nd International Cosmic Ray Conference,
Beijing, China, August 201
The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory
The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays.
It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level
and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the
atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the
information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the
hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in
coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A
detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is
crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of
monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the
fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are
used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic
The cancer patient and cardiology
Advances in cancer treatments have improved clinical outcomes, leading to an increasing population of cancer survivors. However, this success is associated with high rates of short- and long-term cardiovascular (CV) toxicities. The number and variety of cancer drugs and CV toxicity types make long-term care a complex undertaking. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes expertise in oncology, cardiology and other related specialties, and has led to the development of the cardio-oncology subspecialty. This paper aims to provide an overview of the main adverse events, risk assessment and risk mitigation strategies, early diagnosis, medical and complementary strategies for prevention and management, and long-term follow-up strategies for patients at risk of cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicities. Research to better define strategies for early identification, follow-up and management is highly necessary. Although the academic cardio-oncology community may be the best vehicle to foster awareness and research in this field, additional stakeholders (industry, government agencies and patient organizations) must be involved to facilitate cross-discipline interactions and help in the design and funding of cardio-oncology trials. The overarching goals of cardio-oncology are to assist clinicians in providing optimal care for patients with cancer and cancer survivors, to provide insight into future areas of research and to search for collaborations with industry, funding bodies and patient advocates. However, many unmet needs remain. This document is the product of brainstorming presentations and active discussions held at the Cardiovascular Round Table workshop organized in January 2020 by the European Society of Cardiology.</p
Serum-Dependent Selective Expression of EhTMKB1-9, a Member of Entamoeba histolytica B1 Family of Transmembrane Kinases
Entamoeba histolytica transmembrane kinases (EhTMKs) can be grouped into six distinct families on the basis of motifs and sequences. Analysis of the E. histolytica genome revealed the presence of 35 EhTMKB1 members on the basis of sequence identity (â„95%). Only six homologs were full length containing an extracellular domain, a transmembrane segment and an intracellular kinase domain. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the kinase domain was used to generate a library of expressed sequences. Sequencing of randomly picked clones from this library revealed that about 95% of the clones were identical with a single member, EhTMKB1-9, in proliferating cells. On serum starvation, the relative number of EhTMKB1-9 derived sequences decreased with concomitant increase in the sequences derived from another member, EhTMKB1-18. The change in their relative expression was quantified by real time PCR. Northern analysis and RNase protection assay were used to study the temporal nature of EhTMKB1-9 expression after serum replenishment of starved cells. The results showed that the expression of EhTMKB1-9 was sinusoidal. Specific transcriptional induction of EhTMKB1-9 upon serum replenishment was further confirmed by reporter gene (luciferase) expression and the upstream sequence responsible for serum responsiveness was identified. EhTMKB1-9 is one of the first examples of an inducible gene in Entamoeba. The protein encoded by this member was functionally characterized. The recombinant kinase domain of EhTMKB1-9 displayed protein kinase activity. It is likely to have dual specificity as judged from its sensitivity to different kinase inhibitors. Immuno-localization showed EhTMKB1-9 to be a surface protein which decreased on serum starvation and got relocalized on serum replenishment. Cell lines expressing either EhTMKB1-9 without kinase domain, or EhTMKB1-9 antisense RNA, showed decreased cellular proliferation and target cell killing. Our results suggest that E. histolytica TMKs of B1 family are functional kinases likely to be involved in serum response and cellular proliferation
Identifying clouds over the Pierre Auger Observatory using infrared satellite data
We describe a new method of identifying night-time clouds over the Pierre Auger Observatory using infrared data from the Imager instruments on the GOES-12 and GOES-13 satellites. We compare cloud. identifications resulting from our method to those obtained by the Central Laser Facility of the Auger Observatory. Using our new method we can now develop cloud probability maps for the 3000 km(2) of the Pierre Auger Observatory twice per hour with a spatial resolution of similar to 2.4 km by similar to 5.5 km. Our method could also be applied to monitor cloud cover for other ground-based observatories and for space-based observatories. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The successful installation, commissioning, and operation of the
Pierre Auger Observatory would not have been possible without
the strong commitment and effort from the technical and adminis-
trative staff in MalargĂŒe.
We are very grateful to the following agencies and organiza-
tions for financial support: ComisiĂłn Nacional de EnergĂa AtĂłmica,
FundaciĂłn Antorchas, Gobierno De La Provincia de Mendoza,
Municipalidad de MalargĂŒe, NDM Holdings and Valle Las Leñas,
in gratitude for their continuing cooperation over land access,
Argentina; the Australian Research Council; Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq), Financiadora
de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do
Estado de Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa
do Estado de SĂŁo Paulo (FAPESP), MinistĂ©rio de CiĂȘncia e Tecnolo-
gia (MCT), Brazil; AVCR AV0Z10100502 and AV0Z10100522, GAAV
KJB100100904, MSMT-CR LA08016, LG11044, MEB111003,
MSM0021620859, LA08015, TACR TA01010517 and GA UK
119810, Czech Republic; Centre de Calcul IN2P3/CNRS, Centre Na-
tional de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Conseil RĂ©gional Ile-de-
France, Département Physique Nucléaire et Corpusculaire (PNC-
IN2P3/CNRS), DĂ©partement Sciences de lâUnivers (SDU-INSU/
CNRS), France; Bundesministerium fĂŒr Bildung und Forschung
(BMBF), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Finanzministeri-
um Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher
Forschungszentren (HGF), Ministerium fĂŒr Wissenschaft und
Forschung, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Ministerium fĂŒr Wissenschaft,
Forschung und Kunst, Baden-WĂŒrttemberg, Germany; Istituto
Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Ministero dellâIstruzione,
dellâUniversitĂ e della Ricerca (MIUR), Italy; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologĂa (CONACYT), Mexico; Ministerie van Ond-
erwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wet-
enschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Stichting voor Fundamenteel
Onderzoek der Materie (FOM), Netherlands; Ministry of Science
and Higher Education, Grant Nos. N N202 200239 and N N202
207238, Poland; Portuguese national funds and FEDER funds with-
in COMPETE - Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade
through Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e a Tecnologia, Portugal; Roma-
nian Authority for Scientific Research ANCS, CNDI-UEFISCDI part-
nership projects nr.20/2012 and nr.194/2012, project nr.1/
ASPERA2/2012 ERA-NET and PN-II-RU-PD-2011-3-0145-17, Roma-
nia; Ministry for Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Slove-
nian Research Agency, Slovenia; Comunidad de Madrid, FEDER
funds, Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciĂłn and Consolider-Ingenio
2010 (CPAN), Xunta de Galicia, Spain; The Leverhulme Foundation,
Science and Technology Facilities Council, United Kingdom;
Department of Energy, Contract Nos. DE-AC02-07CH11359, DE-
FR02-04ER41300, DE-FG02-99ER41107, National Science Founda-
tion, Grant No. 0450696, The Grainger Foundation USA; NAFO-
STED, Vietnam; Marie Curie-IRSES/EPLANET, European Particle
Physics Latin American Network, European Union 7th Framework
Program, Grant No. PIRSES-2009-GA-246806; and UNESCO.
We would like to thank the former Michigan Tech students:
Nathan Kelley-Hoskins, Kyle Luck and Arin Nelson for their impor-
tant contribution to the development of this paper. We would like
to thank NOAA for the GOES satellite data that we freely down-
loaded from their website. Also, we would like to mention in these
acknowledgments Dr. Steve Ackerman and Dr. Tony Schreiner for
very valuable conversationsPeer reviewe
Bounds on the density of sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays from the Pierre Auger Observatory
We derive lower bounds on the density of sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays from the lack of significant clustering in the arrival directions of the highest energy events detected at the Pierre Auger Observatory. The density of uniformly distributed sources of equal intrinsic intensity was found to be larger than similar to (0.06 â 5) x 10(-4) Mpc(-3) at 95% CL, depending on the magnitude of the magnetic defections. Similar bounds, in the range (0.2 â 7) x 10(-4) Mpc(-3), were obtained for sources following the local matter distribution.We are very grateful to the following agencies and organizations for financial support,: Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, Fundacion Antorchas, Gobierno De La, Provincia de Ailendoza. Municipalidad de Malargile. INDM floldings and Valle Las Lenas, in gratitude for their continuing cooperation over land access. Argentina; the Australian Research Council; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e 'Tecnologico (CNPq), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), Fundacdo de Amparo a Pesquisa do Est ado de Rio de Janeiro (FAP HRJ), Fundacdo de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de Sdo Paulo (FAPESP), Ministerio de Ciencia e Tecnologia (IVICT), Brazil; AVCR AVOZ10100502 and AVOZ10100522, GAAV KJB100100904, AISMT-CR LA08016, LG11044, 1VIEB111003, MSAI0021620859, LA08015, TACR TA01010517 and GA U.K. 119810, Czech Republic; Centre de Calcul I-N2P3/CNRS, Centre National de la -Recherche Scientifique ((1 NRS), Conseil Regional Ile-de-France, f)epartement, Physique Nuclealre et Corpusculaire (I N( Departement Sciences de l'Univers (SDU-INSU/CNRS), France; Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DITG), Finanzministerium Baden-Wurttemberg, flelmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren Ministerium fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Ministerimn fur Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Baden-WUrttemberg, Germany; Istituto Nazion ale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Ministero dell'Istruzione, delhLniversita e della Ricerca (MIUR), Italy: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT), Mexico; Ministerie van Onden s Cultuur on NVetenschap Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Stichting voor Rmdamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM), Netherlands; Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Grant Nos. N N202 200239 and N N202 207238, Poland; Portuguese national funds and FEDER funds within COMPETE - Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade through Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal; Romanian Authority for Scientific Research ANCS, CNDI-UEFISETD1 partnership projects nr.20/2012 and nr.194/2012, project nr.1 /ASPERA2/20I2 ERA-NET and PN-IIRU-PD-2011-3-0145-17, Romania; Ministry for Higher Education, Science, and 'Technology, Slovenian Research Agency, Slovenia; Comunidad de Madrid, FEDER funds, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion and Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (( PAN), X unta de Galicia Spain; Science and Technology Facilities Council, United kingdom; Department of Luergy, Contract Nos. DE-ACO2-07(11-111359, DE-FR02-04E1(41300, DE-FG02-99E1(41107, National Science Foundation, Grant No. 0450696, The Grainger Foundation U.S.A.; NAFOSTED, Vietnam; Marie Curie-IRSES/HPLANET, European Particle Physics Latin American Network, European Union 7th Frarneworlc Program. Grant No. IIRSES-2009-GA-246806; and UNESCO.Peer reviewe
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