Inhomogeneous systematic signals in cosmic shear observations

We calculate the systematic errors in the weak gravitational lensing power spectrum which would be caused by spatially varying calibration (i.e. multiplicative) errors, such as might arise from uncorrected seeing or extinction variations. The systematic error is fully described by the angular two-point correlation function of the systematic in the case of the 2D lensing that we consider here. We investigate three specific cases: Gaussian, ``patchy'' and exponential correlation functions. In order to keep systematic errors below statistical errors in future LSST-like surveys, the spatial variation of calibration should not exceed 3% rms. This conclusion is independently true for all forms of correlation function we consider. The relative size the E- and B-mode power spectrum errors does, however, depend upon the form of the correlation function, indicating that one cannot repair the E-mode power spectrum systematics by means of the B-mode measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Changes reflect PRD published versio

Tests of Gravity from Imaging and Spectroscopic Surveys

Tests of gravity on large-scales in the universe can be made using both imaging and spectroscopic surveys. The former allow for measurements of weak lensing, galaxy clustering and cross-correlations such as the ISW effect. The latter probe galaxy dynamics through redshift space distortions. We use a set of basic observables, namely lensing power spectra, galaxy-lensing and galaxy-velocity cross-spectra in multiple redshift bins (including their covariances), to estimate the ability of upcoming surveys to test gravity theories. We use a two-parameter description of gravity that allows for the Poisson equation and the ratio of metric potentials to depart from general relativity. We find that the combination of imaging and spectroscopic observables is essential in making robust tests of gravity theories. The range of scales and redshifts best probed by upcoming surveys is discussed. We also compare our parametrization to others used in the literature, in particular the gamma parameter modification of the growth factor.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, to be submitte

IDENTIFICATION OF LOADS IN THE LOWER LIMB JOINTS DURING GAIT FOR PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT

The aim of this research was to elaborate the investigation methodology for monitoring the rehabilitation progress of patients with dysfunctional lower limbs. The rehabilitation progress was evaluated on the basis of comparative analysis between kinematic and dynamic parameters measured during individual stages of rehabilitation and standard data. Measurements of ground reaction components and kinematic parameters during gait as well as identification of muscle forces acting on the lower limb were carried out. Muscle forces were identified on the basis of static optimization with the help of our own computer program. Experimental and modelling investigations were performed in GCR Repty with healthy people and with patients after total hip or knee replacement

Przezskórna angioplastyka Y-pomostu żylnego u pacjenta z niestabilną dławicą piersiową : czy zwężenie bifurkacji Y-pomostu żylnego jest nadal wyzwaniem?

Pacjenta w wieku 71 lat po przebytej operacji pomostowania aortalno-wieńcowego przyjęto do Kliniki Kardiologii Interwencyjnej Krakowskiego Szpitala Specjalistycznego im. Jana Pawła II z powodu ostrego zespołu wieńcowego - niestabilnej dławicy piersiowej. W angiografii wieńcowej wykazano obecność istotnego zwężenia rozwidlonego żylnego pomostu wieńcowego jako ostatniego funkcjonującego naczynia. Po kwalifikacji przez lokalny zespół sercowy u pacjenta wykonano angioplastykę rozwidlonego pomostu żylnego z implantacją samorozprężalnego stentu uwalniającego sirolimus (Stentys). W opisie przypadku jest mowa o technicznych aspektach, takich jak wykorzystanie urządzeń do wspomagania funkcji lewej komory, dodatkowych metod obrazowania wieńcowego, rodzaju dostępu zabiegowego, rodzaju stentu i dystalnej protekcji naczynia. Pacjent z licznymi obciążeniami i istotnie obniżoną frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory jest raczej kandydatem do przezskórnej rewaskularyzacji niż do klasycznej operacji. Osiem miesięcy po zabiegu pacjentowi implantowano automatyczny kardiowerter-defibrylator w ramach prewencji pierwotnej nagłej śmierci sercowej w związku z objawową przewlekłą niewydolnością serca. W dyskusji omówiono problem długoterminowego efektu leczenia przezskórnego w tej grupie chorych. Rewaskularyzacja wieńcowa pacjenta z silnymi objawami ze zwężeniem ostatniego funkcjonującego naczynia wieńcowego powinna być obowiązkowa, choć liczne choroby współtowarzyszące zwiększają ryzyko zarówno operacji klasycznej, jak i przezskórnej angioplastyki. Zasadnicze pytanie brzmi: leczyć zabiegowo czy zachowawczo?A 71 year-old patient with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting was admitted to the Department of Interventional Cardiology, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow with acute coronary syndrome - unstable angina. Coronary angiography revealed significant narrowing of a bifurcated venous bypass graft as the last remaining vessel. After consultation from the Heart Team, he underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty of the venous bypass with implantation of a selfapposing sirolimus-eluting stent (Stentys). The technical aspects of this procedure, such as the use of a left ventricle assist device, additional imaging (intravascular ultrasound), the type of approach and stent, and the protection of the vessel are discussed in this article. A patient with numerous co-morbidities and severely decreased function of the left ventricle was in fact a candidate for percutaneous revascularisation. Eight months later, the patient had a cardioverter- -defibrillator implanted in primary prevention of sudden cardiac death due to symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This discussion raises the topic of the long-term effectiveness of angioplasty in this group of patients. Myocardial revascularisation in a patient with severe symptoms and a diseased last remaining vessel should be obligatory. However, multiple comorbidities increase the risk of cardiac surgery as well as of percutaneous angioplasty. The critical question here is: should the treatment be invasive or would the better option be optimal medical treatment

Przezskórna angioplastyka Y-pomostu żylnego u pacjenta z niestabilną dławicą piersiową. Czy zwężenie bifurkacji Y-pomostu żylnego jest nadal wyzwaniem?

71 years-old patient with history of CABG was admitted to Department of Interventional Cardiology, John Paul II Hospital, Cracow with acute coronary syndrome – unstable angina. The coronary angiography revealed significant narrowing of bifurcated venous bypass graft as the last remaining vessel. After qualification by the Heart Team he underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty of venous bypass with implantation of self-apposing sirolimus-eluting stent (Stentys). Technical aspects of procedure such as usage of left ventricle assist device, additional imaging (IVUS), type of approach, stent and protection of vessel were considered in this manuscript. Patient with numerous co-morbidities and severely decreased function of left ventricle was rather candidate for percutaneous revascularization. 8 months later patient had implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in primary prevention of sudden cardiac death due to symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Discussion raises the topic of long-term effectiveness of angioplasty in these group of patients. Myocardial revascularization in patient with severe symptoms and diseased last remaining vessel should be obligatory, however multiple comorbidities increases the risk of cardiac surgery as well as percutaneous angioplasty. Critical question is: to treat invasively or with optimal medical treatment?Pacjenta w wieku 71 lat po przebytej operacji pomostowania aortalno-wieńcowego przyjęto do Kliniki Kardiologii Interwencyjnej Krakowskiego Szpitala Specjalistycznego im. Jana Pawła II z powodu ostrego zespołu wieńcowego — niestabilnej dławicy piersiowej. W angiografii wieńcowej wykazano obecność istotnego zwężenia rozwidlonego żylnego pomostu wieńcowego jako ostatniego funkcjonującego naczynia. Po kwalifikacji przez lokalny zespół sercowy u pacjenta wykonano angioplastykę rozwidlonego pomostu żylnego z implantacją samorozprężalnego stentu uwalniającego sirolimus (Stentys). W opisie przypadku jest mowa o technicznych aspektach, takich jak wykorzystanie urządzeń do wspomagania funkcji lewej komory, dodatkowych metod obrazowania wieńcowego, rodzaju dostępu zabiegowego, rodzaju stentu i dystalnej protekcji naczynia. Pacjent z licznymi obciążeniami i istotnie obniżoną frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory jest raczej kandydatem do przezskórnej rewaskularyzacji niż do klasycznej operacji. Osiem miesięcy po zabiegu pacjentowi implantowano automatyczny kardiowerter-defibrylator w ramach prewencji pierwotnej nagłej śmierci sercowej w związku z objawową przewlekłą niewydolnością serca. W dyskusji omówiono problem długoterminowego efektu leczenia przezskórnego w tej grupie chorych. Rewaskularyzacja wieńcowa pacjenta z silnymi objawami ze zwężeniem ostatniego funkcjonującego naczynia wieńcowego powinna być obowiązkowa, choć liczne choroby współtowarzyszące zwiększają ryzyko zarówno operacji klasycznej, jak i przezskórnej angioplastyki. Zasadnicze pytanie brzmi: leczyć zabiegowo czy zachowawczo

Systematic errors in weak lensing: application to SDSS galaxy-galaxy weak lensing

Weak lensing is emerging as a powerful observational tool to constrain cosmological models, but is at present limited by an incomplete understanding of many sources of systematic error. Many of these errors are multiplicative and depend on the population of background galaxies. We show how the commonly cited geometric test, which is rather insensitive to cosmology, can be used as a ratio test of systematics in the lensing signal at the 1 per cent level. We apply this test to the galaxy-galaxy lensing analysis of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), which at present is the sample with the highest weak lensing signal to noise and has the additional advantage of spectroscopic redshifts for lenses. This allows one to perform meaningful geometric tests of systematics for different subsamples of galaxies at different mean redshifts, such as brighter galaxies, fainter galaxies and high-redshift luminous red galaxies, both with and without photometric redshift estimates. We use overlapping objects between SDSS and the DEEP2 and 2SLAQ spectroscopic surveys to establish accurate calibration of photometric redshifts and to determine the redshift distributions for SDSS. We use these redshift results to compute the projected surface density contrast DeltaSigma around 259 609 spectroscopic galaxies in the SDSS; by measuring DeltaSigma with different source samples we establish consistency of the results at the 10 per cent level (1-sigma). We also use the ratio test to constrain shear calibration biases and other systematics in the SDSS survey data to determine the overall galaxy-galaxy weak lensing signal calibration uncertainty. We find no evidence of any inconsistency among many subsamples of the data.Comment: 39 pages, 19 figure

Lensing effect on polarization in microwave background: extracting convergence power spectrum

Matter inhomogeneities along the line of sight deflect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons originating at the last scattering surface at redshift $z \sim 1100$. These distortions modify the pattern of CMB polarization. We identify specific combinations of Stokes $Q$ and $U$ parameters that correspond to spin 0,$\pm 2$ variables and can be used to reconstruct the projected matter density. We compute the expected signal to noise as a function of detector sensitivity and angular resolution. With Planck satellite the detection would be at a few $\sigma$ level. Several times better detector sensitivity would be needed to measure the projected dark matter power spectrum over a wider range of scales, which could provide an independent confirmation of the projected matter power spectrum as measured from other methods.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of coronary microcirculatory disease occurrence and outcome in patients with chronic coronary syndrome and no significant coronary artery stenosis

Introduction: Index of microcirculatory resistance assessment is an invasive method of measuring coronary microcirculation function. Association between impaired microcirculatory function and higher rate of cardiovascular events was proven. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio seem to be a promising parameters to predict coronary microcirculatory disease in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. The aim: To determine neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio levels in patients with coronary microcirculatory disease and potential association with clinical outcome. Material and methods: 82 consecutive patients with mean age of 67 years, 67% male, were tested for presence of coronary microcirculatory disease using index of microcirculatory resistance. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were calculated based on admission full blood count. Follow-up with major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events registration was performed (median 24 months). Results: The study showed significantly higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients with coronary microcirculatory disease compared to control group (3.58±2.61 vs 2.54±1.09 and 164±87.9 vs 124±36.6 respectively). Higher level of platelet-lymphocyte ratio in patients with coronary microcirculatory disease results in worse MACCE-free survival. Optimal cut-off values of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio to detect coronary microcirculatory disease were 3.2 and 181.3, respectively. Conclusions: Higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are associated with increased index of microcirculatory resistance value. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio may be used as a predictor of worse outcome in patients with coronary microcirculatory disease

The Effect of Exercise on the Skin Content of the Reduced Form of NAD and Its Response to Transient Ischemia and Reperfusion in Highly Trained Athletes

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is synthesized in the cellular nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria but oxidized into NAD+ almost exclusively in mitochondria. Activation of human skin by the 340 nm ultraviolet light triggers natural fluorescence at the light length of 460 nm, which intensity is proportional to the skin NADH content. This phenomenon is used by the Flow Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) which measures changes in the skin NADH content during transient ischemia and reperfusion. We examined the effects of exercise to exhaustion on the skin changes of NADH in response to 200 s forearm ischemia and reperfusion in 121 highly trained athletes (94 men and 27 women, long-distance running, triathlon, taekwondo, rowing, futsal, sprint running, fencing, and tennis). We found that exercise until exhaustion changes the skin content of NADH, modifies NADH turnover at rest, during ischemia and reperfusion in the most superficial living skin cells. Compared to the pre-exercise, there were significant increases in: mean fluorescence recorded during rest as the baseline value (Bmean) (p < 0.001), the maximal fluorescence that increased above the baseline during controlled forearm ischemia (FImax) (p < 0.001, only in men), the minimal fluorescence after decreasing below the baseline during reperfusion (FRmin) (p < 0.001 men; p < 0.01 women) and the difference between Bmean and FRmin (Rmin) (p < 0.01), and reductions in the difference between FImax and Bmean (Imax) (p < 0.001) and Imax/IRampl ratio (CImax) (p < 0.001) after the incremental exercise test. There was no statistical difference between pre- and post-exercise the maximal range of the fluorescence change during ischemia and reperfusion (IRampl). In conclusion, exercise to exhaustion modifies the skin NADH content at rest, during ischemia and reperfusion as well as the magnitude of changes in the NADH caused by ischemia and reperfusion. Our findings suggest that metabolic changes in the skin NADH accompanying exercise extend beyond muscles and affect other cells and organs