Bayesian blind component separation for Cosmic Microwave Background observations

We present a technique for the blind separation of components in CMB data. The method uses a spectral EM algorithm which recovers simultaneously component templates, their emission law as a function of wavelength, and noise levels. We test the method on Planck HFI simulated observations featuring 3 astrophysical components.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the MAXENT 2001 international worksho

Porokeratosis of Mibelli. A Case Report

As poroqueratoses resultam de uma hiper-proliferação clonal dos queratinócitos, encontrando-se pelo menos descritas seis formas clínicas, que partilham o achado da lamela cornóide no exame histopatológico. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma poroqueratose de Mibelli numa mulher de 27 anos, raça negra, com início na infância, eficazmente tratada com retinóide tópico, apresentando-se as manifestações típicas de uma dermatose pouco frequente e destacando-se a importância da histopatologia na confirmação do seu diagnóstico. A poroqueratose de Mibelli é uma dermatose crónica e progressiva, raramente com remissão espontânea. A sua evolução para neoplasia maligna, particularmente carcinoma espino-celular, pode ocorrer em cerca de 7% dos doentes, reforçando-se a importância de uma adequada vigilância

Evaluation of amendments in the rehabilitation of sulfide mine tailings from São Domingos

RAMIRAN International ConferenceThe São Domingos mining area is located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, SE Portugal, and represents a serious environmental hazard (Matos and Martins, 2006). Exploitation dated back to pre-roman and roman times with extraction of Ag, Au and Cu exploitation, mainly in the gossan (resulting from the ore weathering). The intense exploitation started in the middle of 19th century, both in the gossan and sulfide ore-containing Cu, Zn, As and Pb, and lasted until 1960, with the exhaustion of the ore (Quental et al., 2002). Different types of waste materials were left: gossan, host rocks (volcanic with shales, and shales), roman and modern slags, smelting ashes and brittle and blocks of pyrite (Matos, 2004; Álvarez-Valero et al., 2008). All sulfide mine wastes are typically heterogeneous and contain high amounts of trace elements, acidic pH and small contents of organic matter and nutrients. The large dumps containing pyrite and other metal sulfides generate, by oxidation, acidic mine drainage (AMD) which increases the availability of trace elements for microorganisms and plants in the surrounding soils. All of these characteristics contribute towards a system that is barely capable of supporting the establishment or survival of plants. The use of amendments and spontaneous colonization (vegetation) from mining areas (phytostabilization) are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods to rehabilitate these contaminated and degraded areas even in arid and semi-arid conditions (Tordoff et al., 2000; Mendez and Maier, 2008). Thus, the preparation of Technosols from mixtures of organic and inorganic wastes can be an attractive option to rehabilitate mining areas because they can improve physical, chemical and biological properties contributing, at the same time, towards a strategy of wastes valorisation (Macías, 2004). The use of mixtures composed of residues with different C:N ratios can be used to manipulate the rate of mineralization. Nevertheless, the amendments used should also promote other soil functions (Arbestain et al., 2008). The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of cost-effective organic and inorganic amendments, available in the region, in the rehabilitation of sulfide materials from the São Domingos mine are

Integrated transcriptomics contrasts fatty acid metabolism with hypoxia response in β-cell subpopulations associated with glycemic control

BACKGROUND: Understanding how heterogeneous β-cell function impacts diabetes is imperative for therapy development. Standard single-cell RNA sequencing analysis illuminates some factors driving heterogeneity, but new strategies are required to enhance information capture. RESULTS: We integrate pancreatic islet single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to identify β-cell subpopulations based on gene expression and characterize genetic networks associated with β-cell function in obese SM/J mice. We identify β-cell subpopulations associated with basal insulin secretion, hypoxia response, cell polarity, and stress response. Network analysis associates fatty acid metabolism and basal insulin secretion with hyperglycemic-obesity, while expression of Pdyn and hypoxia response is associated with normoglycemic-obesity. CONCLUSIONS: By integrating single-cell and bulk islet transcriptomes, our study explores β-cell heterogeneity and identifies novel subpopulations and genetic pathways associated with β-cell function in obesity

Bi-layer Kinetic Inductance Detectors for space observations between 80-120 GHz

We have developed Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors (LEKID) sensitive in the frequency band from 80 to 120~GHz. In this work, we take advantage of the so-called proximity effect to reduce the superconducting gap of Aluminium, otherwise strongly suppressing the LEKID response for frequencies smaller than 100~GHz. We have designed, produced and optically tested various fully multiplexed arrays based on multi-layers combinations of Aluminium (Al) and Titanium (Ti). Their sensitivities have been measured using a dedicated closed-circle 100 mK dilution cryostat and a sky simulator allowing to reproduce realistic observation conditions. The spectral response has been characterised with a Martin-Puplett interferometer up to THz frequencies, and with a resolution of 3~GHz. We demonstrate that Ti-Al LEKID can reach an optical sensitivity of about $1.4$ $10^{-17}$~$W/Hz^{0.5}$ (best pixel), or $2.2$ $10^{-17}$~$W/Hz^{0.5}$ when averaged over the whole array. The optical background was set to roughly 0.4~pW per pixel, typical for future space observatories in this particular band. The performance is close to a sensitivity of twice the CMB photon noise limit at 100~GHz which drove the design of the Planck HFI instrument. This figure remains the baseline for the next generation of millimetre-wave space satellites.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, submitted to A&

Supernova type Ia luminosities, their dependence on second parameters, and the value of H_0

A sample of 35 SNe Ia with good to excellent photometry in B and V, minimum internal absorption, and 1200 < v < \approx 30000 km/s is compiled from the literature. As far as their spectra are known they are all Branch-normal. For 29 of the SNe Ia also peak magnitudes in I are known. The SNe Ia have uniform colors at maximum, i.e. =-0.012 mag (sigma=0.051) and =-0.276 mag (sigma=0.078). In the Hubble diagram they define a Hubble line with a scatter of $\sigma_M$=0.21-0.16 mag, decreasing with wavelength. The scatter is further reduced if the SNe Ia are corrected for differences in decline rate Delta_m_15 or color (B-V). A combined correction reduces the scatter to sigma<=0.13 mag. After the correction no significant dependence remains on Hubble type or galactocentric distance. The Hubble line suggests some curvature which can be differently interpreted. A consistent solution is obtained for a cosmological model with Omega_M=0.3, Omega_Lambda=0.7, which is indicated also by much more distant SNe Ia. Absolute magnitudes are available for eight equally blue (Branch-normal) SNe Ia in spirals, whose Cepheid distances are known. If their well defined mean values of M_B, M_V, and M_I are used to fit the Hubble line to the above sample of SNe Ia one obtains H_0=58.3 km/s/Mpc, or, after adjusting all SNe Ia to the average values of Delta_m_15 and (B-V), H_0=60.9 km/s/Mpc. Various systematic errors are discussed whose elimination tends to decrease H_0. The finally adopted value at the 90-percent level, including random and systematic errors, is H_0=58.5 +/- 6.3 km/s/Mpc. Several higher values of H_0 from SNe Ia, as suggested in the literature, are found to depend on large corrections for variations of the light curve parameter and/or on an unwarranted reduction of the Cepheid distances of the calibrating SNe Ia.Comment: 42 pages, including 9 figures; submitted to Ap

NIKEL: Electronics and data acquisition for kilopixels kinetic inductance camera

A prototype of digital frequency multiplexing electronics allowing the real time monitoring of microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKIDs) arrays for mm-wave astronomy has been developed. Thanks to the frequency multiplexing, it can monitor simultaneously 400 pixels over a 500 MHz bandwidth and requires only two coaxial cables for instrumenting such a large array. The chosen solution and the performances achieved are presented in this paper.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figure

Dynamical algebra and Dirac quantum modes in Taub-NUT background

The SO(4,1) gauge-invariant theory of the Dirac fermions in the external field of the Kaluza-Klein monopole is investigated. It is shown that the discrete quantum modes are governed by reducible representations of the o(4) dynamical algebra generated by the components of the angular momentum operator and those of the Runge-Lenz operator of the Dirac theory in Taub-NUT background. The consequence is that there exist central and axial discrete modes whose spinors have no separated variables.Comment: 17 pages, latex, no figures. Version to appear in Class.Quantum Gra