5,876 research outputs found
The DAFT/FADA survey. I.Photometric redshifts along lines of sight to clusters in the z=[0.4,0.9] interval
As a contribution to the understanding of the dark energy concept, the Dark
energy American French Team (DAFT, in French FADA) has started a large project
to characterize statistically high redshift galaxy clusters, infer cosmological
constraints from Weak Lensing Tomography, and understand biases relevant for
constraining dark energy and cluster physics in future cluster and cosmological
experiments. The purpose of this paper is to establish the basis of reference
for the photo-z determination used in all our subsequent papers, including weak
lensing tomography studies. This project is based on a sample of 91 high
redshift (z>0.4), massive clusters with existing HST imaging, for which we are
presently performing complementary multi-wavelength imaging. This allows us in
particular to estimate spectral types and determine accurate photometric
redshifts for galaxies along the lines of sight to the first ten clusters for
which all the required data are available down to a limit of I_AB=24/24.5 with
the LePhare software. The accuracy in redshift is of the order of 0.05 for the
range 0.2<z<1.5. We verified that the technique applied to obtain photometric
redshifts works well by comparing our results to with previous works. In
clusters, photoz accuracy is degraded for bright absolute magnitudes and for
the latest and earliest type galaxies. The photoz accuracy also only slightly
varies as a function of the spectral type for field galaxies. As a consequence,
we find evidence for an environmental dependence of the photoz accuracy,
interpreted as the standard used Spectral Energy Distributions being not very
well suited to cluster galaxies. Finally, we modeled the LCDCS 0504 mass with
the strong arcs detected along this line of sight.Comment: Accepted in A&
A high-performance track fitter for use in ultra-fast electronics
This article describes a new charged-particle track fitting algorithm
designed for use in high-speed electronics applications such as hardware-based
triggers in high-energy physics experiments. Following a novel technique
designed for fast electronics, the positions of the hits on the detector are
transformed before being passed to a linearized track parameter fit. This
transformation results in fitted track parameters with a very linear dependence
on the hit positions. The approach is demonstrated in a representative detector
geometry based on the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The fit is
implemented in FPGA chips and optimized for track fitting throughput and
obtains excellent track parameter performance. Such an algorithm is potentially
useful in any high-speed track-fitting application
Polarization transfer in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction up to Q^2=1.61 (GeV/c)^2
The recoil proton polarization was measured in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction
in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). The
electron kinematics were centered on the quasielastic peak (x_{Bj}~1) and
included three values of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q^2=0.43, 1.00 and
1.61 (GeV/c)^2. For Q^2=0.43 and 1.61 (GeV/c)^2, the missing momentum, p_m, was
centered at zero while for Q^2=1.00 (GeV/c)^2 two values of p_m were chosen: 0
and 174 MeV/c. At low p_m, the Q^2 dependence of the longitudinal polarization,
P_z', is not well described by a state-of-the-art calculation. Further, at
higher p_m, a 3.5 sigma discrepancy was observed in the transverse
polarization, P_x'. Understanding the origin of these discrepancies is
important in order to confidently extract the neutron electric form factor from
the analogous d(epol,e' npol)p experiment.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; updated text, figures and table
Large-scale structure in the Lyman-alpha forest II: analysis of a group of ten QSOs
The spatial distribution of Ly-alpha forest absorption systems towards ten
QSOs has been analysed to search for large-scale structure over the redshift
range 2.2 < z < 3.4. The QSOs form a closely spaced group on the sky and are
concentrated within a 1 deg^2 field. We have employed a technique based on the
first and second moments of the transmission probability density function which
is capable of identifying and assessing the significance of regions of over- or
underdense Ly-alpha absorption. We find evidence for large-scale structure in
the distribution of Ly-alpha forest absorption at the > 99 per cent confidence
level. In individual spectra we find overdense Ly-alpha absorption on scales of
up to 1200 km s^-1. There is also strong evidence for correlated absorption
across line of sight pairs separated by < 3 h^-1 proper Mpc (q_0 = 0.5). For
larger separations the cross-correlation signal becomes progressively less
significant.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX, 6 Postscript figures, accepted for publication in
MNRA
The Quasielastic 3He(e,e'p)d Reaction at Q^2 = 1.5 GeV^2 for Recoil Momenta up to 1 GeV/c
We have studied the quasielastic 3He(e,e'p)d reaction in perpendicular
coplanar kinematics, with the energy and momentum transferred by the electron
fixed at 840 MeV and 1502 MeV/c, respectively. The 3He(e,e'p)d cross section
was measured for missing momenta up to 1000 MeV/c, while the A_TL asymmetry was
extracted for missing momenta up to 660 MeV/c. For missing momenta up to 150
MeV/c, the measured cross section is described well by calculations that use a
variational ground-state wave function of the 3He nucleus derived from a
potential that includes three-body forces. For missing momenta from 150 to 750
MeV/c, strong final-state interaction effects are observed. Near 1000 MeV/c,
the experimental cross section is more than an order of magnitude larger than
predicted by available theories. The A_TL asymmetry displays characteristic
features of broken factorization, and is described reasonably well by available
models.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, v3: changed
conten
Measurement of the 3He(e,e'p)pn reaction at high missing energies and momenta
Results of the Jefferson Lab Hall A quasielastic 3He(e,e'p)pn measurements
are presented. These measurements were performed at fixed transferred momentum
and energy, q = 1502 MeV/c and omega = 840 MeV, respectively, for missing
momenta p_m up to 1 GeV/c and missing energies in the continuum region, up to
pion threshold; this kinematic coverage is much more extensive than that of any
previous experiment. The cross section data are presented along with the
effective momentum density distribution and compared to theoretical models.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, updated to reflect published paper: minor text
changes from previous version along with updated and added reference
X-ray Spectroscopy of Cooling Clusters
We review the X-ray spectra of the cores of clusters of galaxies. Recent high
resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations have demonstrated a severe deficit
of emission at the lowest X-ray temperatures as compared to that expected from
simple radiative cooling models. The same observations have provided compelling
evidence that the gas in the cores is cooling below half the maximum
temperature. We review these results, discuss physical models of cooling
clusters, and describe the X-ray instrumentation and analysis techniques used
to make these observations. We discuss several viable mechanisms designed to
cancel or distort the expected process of X-ray cluster cooling.Comment: To appear in Physics Reports, 71 pages, 20 figure
A qualitative investigation of breast cancer survivors’ experiences with breastfeeding
This is an exploratory, qualitative investigation of breast cancer survivors’ experiences with breastfeeding. Previous studies have focused on the physiology of lactation after surgery and treatment, but have not explored factors influencing breastfeeding decisions and behavior.
We used purposeful sampling to identify 11 breast cancer survivors who had a child after their diagnosis and treatment. Participants were recruited from among those in the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study and a Young Survival Coalition (YSC) affiliate. We conducted semi-structured, open-ended telephone interviews lasting 45–75 min. We used social cognitive theory (SCT) to structure questions regarding influences on breastfeeding behavior. We transcribed interviews and used cross-case, inductive analysis to identify themes.
Ten of 11 participants initiated breastfeeding. The following main themes emerged: 1) Cautiously hopeful, 2) Exhausting to rely on one breast, 3) Motivated despite challenges, 4) Support and lack of support, and 5) Encouraging to others.
Study participants were highly motivated to breastfeed but faced considerable challenges. Participants described problems that are not unique to women with breast cancer, but experienced these to a much greater degree because they relied mostly or entirely on one lactating breast. This study revealed a need for improved access to information and support and greater sensitivity to the obstacles faced by breast cancer survivors.
Results of this qualitative analysis indicate that interventions to support the efforts of breast cancer survivors who are interested in breastfeeding are warranted. Additional research would aid in the development of such interventions
Dark Matter Candidates: A Ten-Point Test
An extraordinarily rich zoo of non-baryonic Dark Matter candidates has been
proposed over the last three decades. Here we present a 10-point test that a
new particle has to pass, in order to be considered a viable DM candidate: I.)
Does it match the appropriate relic density? II.) Is it {\it cold}? III.) Is it
neutral? IV.) Is it consistent with BBN? V.) Does it leave stellar evolution
unchanged? VI.) Is it compatible with constraints on self-interactions? VII.)
Is it consistent with {\it direct} DM searches? VIII.) Is it compatible with
gamma-ray constraints? IX.) Is it compatible with other astrophysical bounds?
X.) Can it be probed experimentally?Comment: 29 pages, 12 figure
The use of fasting vs. non-fasting triglyceride concentration for estimating the prevalence of high LDL-cholesterol and metabolic syndrome in population surveys
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For practical reasons it is not easy to obtain fasting samples in large population health surveys. Non-fasting triglyceride (Tg) values are difficult to interpret. The authors compared the accuracy of statistically corrected non-fasting Tg values with true fasting values and estimated the misclassification of subjects with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the metabolic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Non-fasting blood was obtained from a population-based sample of 4282 individuals aged 24-75 years in the National FINRISK 2007 Study. Fasting blood samples were drawn from the same persons 3 months later. Non-fasting serum Tg values were converted into fasting values using previously published formula. LDL-C was calculated and classification of the metabolic syndrome was carried out according to three different latest guidelines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median (25<sup>th</sup>, 75th percentile) non-fasting serum Tg concentration was 1.18 (0.87, 1.72) mmol/L and after postprandial correction 1.06 (0.78, 1.52) mmol/L. The true-fasting serum Tg concentration was 1.00 (0.75, 1.38) mmol/L (<it>P </it>< 0.001) vs. non-fasting and corrected value. Bias of the corrected value was +5.9% compared with the true-fasting Tg. Of the true fasting subjects, 56.4% had LDL-C ≥3.00 mmol/L. When calculated using non-fasting serum Tg, the prevalence of high LDL-C was 51.3% and using statistically corrected Tg it was 54.8%. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 35.5% among fully fasted persons and among non-fasting subjects 39.7%, which after statistical correction of Tg decreased to 37.6% (P < 0.001 for all comparisons).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Correction of non-fasting serum Tg to fasting values plays a minor role in population studies but nevertheless reduces misclassification of calculated high LDL-C from 5.1 to 1.6% and the metabolic syndrome from 4.2 to 2.1%.</p
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