133 research outputs found
Simultaneous exoplanet detection and instrument aberration retrieval in multispectral coronagraphic imaging
High-contrast imaging for the detection and characterization of exoplanets
relies on the instrument's capability to block out the light of the host star.
Some current post-processing methods for calibrating out the residual speckles
use information redundancy offered by multispectral imaging but do not use any
prior information on the origin of these speckles. We investigate whether
additional information on the system and image formation process can be used to
more finely exploit the multispectral information. We developed an inversion
method in a Bayesian framework that is based on an analytical imaging model to
estimate both the speckles and the object map. The model links the instrumental
aberrations to the speckle pattern in the image focal plane, distinguishing
between aberrations upstream and downstream of the coronagraph. We propose and
validate several numerical techniques to handle the difficult minimization
problems of phase retrieval and achieve a contrast of 10^6 at 0.2 arcsec from
simulated images, in the presence of photon noise. This opens up the the
possibility of tests on real data where the ultimate performance may override
the current techniques if the instrument has good and stable coronagraphic
imaging quality. This paves the way for new astrophysical exploitations or even
new designs for future instruments
A self-calibration approach for optical long baseline interferometry imaging
Current optical interferometers are affected by unknown turbulent phases on
each telescope. In the field of radio-interferometry, the self-calibration
technique is a powerful tool to process interferometric data with missing phase
information. This paper intends to revisit the application of self-calibration
to Optical Long Baseline Interferometry (OLBI). We cast rigorously the OLBI
data processing problem into the self-calibration framework and demonstrate the
efficiency of the method on real astronomical OLBI dataset
Imagerie à travers la turbulence par déconvolution myope multi-trame
La déconvolution par analyse de fronts d'onde est une technique d'imagerie à haute résolution en présence de turbulence atmosphérique. Elle consiste en une déconvolution multi-trame d'images courte pose utilisant des mesures de fronts d'onde enregistrées simultanément. L'approche bayésienne proposée ici nous permet de construire un algorithme de déconvolution original pour prendre en compte le bruit sur les mesures de front d'onde. L'utilisation de connaissances a priori sur les objets observés et sur la statistique de la turbulence atmosphérique nous permet de plus de régulariser le problème. Une simulation numérique montre l'utilité de la régularisation sur les fronts d'onde
Darwin -— an experimental astronomy mission to search for extrasolar planets
As a response to ESA call for mission concepts for its Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 plan, we propose a mission called Darwin. Its primary goal is the study of terrestrial extrasolar planets and the search for life on them. In this paper, we describe different characteristics of the instrument
CD6 and Syntaxin Binding Protein 6 Variants and Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitors in Danish Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
<div><h3>Background</h3><p>TNFα inhibitor therapy has greatly improved the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, however at least 30% do not respond. We aimed to investigate insertions and deletions (INDELS) associated with response to TNFα inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p> <h3>Methodology and Principal Findings</h3><p>In the DANBIO Registry we identified 237 TNFα inhibitor naïve patients with RA (81% women; median age 56 years; disease duration 6 years) who initiated treatment with infliximab (n = 160), adalimumab (n = 56) or etanercept (n = 21) between 1999 and 2008 according to national treatment guidelines. Clinical response was assessed at week 26 using EULAR response criteria. Based on literature, we selected 213 INDELS potentially related to RA and treatment response using the GeneVa® (Compugen) <em>in silico</em> database of 350,000 genetic variations in the human genome. Genomic segments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and genotyped by Sanger sequencing or fragment analysis. We tested the association between genotypes and EULAR good response versus no response, and EULAR good response versus moderate/no response using Fisher’s exact test. At baseline the median DAS28 was 5.1. At week 26, 68 (29%) patients were EULAR good responders, while 81 (34%) and 88 (37%) patients were moderate and non-responders, respectively. A 19 base pair insertion within the CD6 gene was associated with EULAR good response vs. no response (OR = 4.43, 95% CI: 1.99–10.09, p = 7.211×10<sup>−5</sup>) and with EULAR good response vs. moderate/no response (OR = 4.54, 95% CI: 2.29–8.99, p = 3.336×10<sup>−6</sup>). A microsatellite within the syntaxin binding protein 6 (STXBP6) was associated with EULAR good response vs. no response (OR = 4.01, 95% CI: 1.92–8.49, p = 5.067×10<sup>−5</sup>).</p> <h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Genetic variations within CD6 and STXBP6 may influence response to TNFα inhibitors in patients with RA.</p> </div
Marginal blind deconvolution of adaptive optics retinalimages
International audienc
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