Near IR diffraction-limited integral-field SINFONI spectroscopy of the Circinus galaxy

Using the adaptive optics assisted near infrared integral field spectrometer SINFONI on the VLT, we have obtained observations of the Circinus galaxy on parsec scales. The morphologies of the H_2(1-0)S(1) 2.12um and Br_gamma 2.17um emission lines are only slightly different, but their velocity maps are similar and show a gradient along the major axis of the galaxy, consistent with rotation.Since V_rot/sigma is approximately 1 suggests that random motions are also important, it is likely that the lines arise in a rotating spheroid or thickened disk around the AGN. Comparing the Br_gamma flux to the stellar continuum indicates that the star formation in this region began almost 10^8 yr ago. We also detect the [SiVI] 1.96um,[AlIX] 2.04um and [CaVIII] 2.32um coronal lines. In all cases we observe a broad blue wing, indicating the presence of two or more components in the coronal line region. A correlation between the ionisation potential and the asymmetry of the profiles was found for these high excitation species.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to the Proceedings of the IFS Workshop, Jul 4-8 2005, Durham, Englan

La crítica de Juan de santo Tomás del concepto suareciano de materia prima

La figura de Juan Poinsot (Juan de santo Tomás, Joannis a sancto Thoma) se inserta en el movimiento de retorno a un tomismo libre de adherencias nominalistas promovido en el tomismo hispánico por relevantes figuras de la orden de predicadores. En tal sentido debe ser entendida la crítica de Poinsot a algunas ideas de origen escotista y ockhamista presentes en la metafísica de Suárez, referidas al estatuto ontológico de la sustancia material, tales como: la actualidad de la materia, el modo sustancial de unión, la inhesión inmediata de la cantidad en la materia y la idea de extensión entitativa (extensio entitativa).The figure of Juan Poinsot (Juan de Santo Tomás, Joannis a Sancto Thoma) is inserted in the movement of return to a Thomism free of nominalist adherences promoted in the Hispanic Thomism by relevant figures of the order of preachers. In this sense must be understood the Poinsot’s critique of some ideas of Scotistic and Ockhamistic origin, present in the metaphysics of Suarez, referred to the ontological status of the material substance, such as: the actuality of matter, the substantial mode of union, the immediate inhesion of the quantity in matter and the idea of entitative extension (extensio entitativa)

Excitation power dependence of the Purcell effect in photonic crystalmicrocavity lasers with quantum wires

[EN] The Purcell effect dependence on the excitation power is studied in photonic crystal microcavity lasers embedding InAs/InP quantum wires. In the case of non-lasing modes, the Purcell effect has low dependence on the optical pumping, attributable to an exciton dynamics combining free and localized excitons. In the case of lasing modes, the influence of the stimulated emission makes ambiguous the determination of the Purcell factor. We have found that this ambiguity can be avoided by measuring the dependence of the decay time on the excitation power. These results provide insights in the determination of the Purcell factor in microcavity lasers.We want to acknowledge financial support from the Spanish MICINN through grants (Nos. S-0505-TIC-0191, TEC2008-06756-C03-01/-03, TEC2011-29045-C04-03, TEC2011-29120-C05-01/04, and CAM S2009ESP-1503). J.C.-F. thanks the Spanish MCI for his FPI grant (No. BES-2006-12300).Canet-Ferrer, J.; Prieto, I.; Muñoz Matutano, G.; Martínez, L.; Muñoz-Camuniez, L.; Llorens, J.; Fuster, D.... (2013). Excitation power dependence of the Purcell effect in photonic crystalmicrocavity lasers with quantum wires. Applied Physics Letters. 102(20). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4807439S10220Gérard, J., Sermage, B., Gayral, B., Legrand, B., Costard, E., & Thierry-Mieg, V. (1998). Enhanced Spontaneous Emission by Quantum Boxes in a Monolithic Optical Microcavity. Physical Review Letters, 81(5), 1110-1113. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.81.1110Englund, D., Fattal, D., Waks, E., Solomon, G., Zhang, B., Nakaoka, T., … Vučković, J. (2005). Controlling the Spontaneous Emission Rate of Single Quantum Dots in a Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal. Physical Review Letters, 95(1). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.95.013904Munsch, M., Mosset, A., Auffèves, A., Seidelin, S., Poizat, J. P., Gérard, J.-M., … Senellart, P. (2009). Continuous-wave versus time-resolved measurements of Purcell factors for quantum dots in semiconductor microcavities. Physical Review B, 80(11). doi:10.1103/physrevb.80.115312Yoshie, T., Scherer, A., Hendrickson, J., Khitrova, G., Gibbs, H. M., Rupper, G., … Deppe, D. G. (2004). Vacuum Rabi splitting with a single quantum dot in a photonic crystal nanocavity. Nature, 432(7014), 200-203. doi:10.1038/nature03119Badolato, A. (2005). Deterministic Coupling of Single Quantum Dots to Single Nanocavity Modes. Science, 308(5725), 1158-1161. doi:10.1126/science.1109815Hennessy, K., Badolato, A., Winger, M., Gerace, D., Atatüre, M., Gulde, S., … Imamoğlu, A. (2007). Quantum nature of a strongly coupled single quantum dot–cavity system. Nature, 445(7130), 896-899. doi:10.1038/nature05586Strauf, S. (2010). Towards efficient quantum sources. Nature Photonics, 4(3), 132-134. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2010.11Altug, H., Englund, D., & Vučković, J. (2006). Ultrafast photonic crystal nanocavity laser. Nature Physics, 2(7), 484-488. doi:10.1038/nphys343Azzini, S., Gerace, D., Galli, M., Sagnes, I., Braive, R., Lemaître, A., … Bajoni, D. (2011). Ultra-low threshold polariton lasing in photonic crystal cavities. Applied Physics Letters, 99(11), 111106. doi:10.1063/1.3638469Nozaki, K., Kita, S., & Baba, T. (2007). Room temperature continuous wave operation and controlled spontaneous emission in ultrasmall photonic crystal nanolaser. Optics Express, 15(12), 7506. doi:10.1364/oe.15.007506Strauf, S., Hennessy, K., Rakher, M. T., Choi, Y.-S., Badolato, A., Andreani, L. C., … Bouwmeester, D. (2006). Self-Tuned Quantum Dot Gain in Photonic Crystal Lasers. Physical Review Letters, 96(12). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.96.127404Kippenberg, T. J., Spillane, S. M., & Vahala, K. J. (2004). Demonstration of ultra-high-Q small mode volume toroid microcavities on a chip. Applied Physics Letters, 85(25), 6113-6115. doi:10.1063/1.1833556Arakawa, Y., & Sakaki, H. (1982). Multidimensional quantum well laser and temperature dependence of its threshold current. Applied Physics Letters, 40(11), 939-941. doi:10.1063/1.92959Kapon, E. (1992). Quantum wire lasers. Proceedings of the IEEE, 80(3), 398-410. doi:10.1109/5.135356Canet-Ferrer, J., Munoz-Matutano, G., Fuster, D., Alen, B., Gonzalez, Y., Gonzalez, L., & Martinez-Pastor, J. P. (2011). Localization effects on recombination dynamics in InAs/InP self-assembled quantum wires emitting at 1.5 μm. Journal of Applied Physics, 110(10), 103502. doi:10.1063/1.3660260Alén, B., Martı́nez-Pastor, J., Garcı́a-Cristobal, A., González, L., & Garcı́a, J. M. (2001). Optical transitions and excitonic recombination in InAs/InP self-assembled quantum wires. Applied Physics Letters, 78(25), 4025-4027. doi:10.1063/1.1379991Cao, M., Daste, P., Miyamoto, Y., Miyake, Y., Nogiwa, S., Arai, S., … Suematsu, Y. (1988). GaInAsP/InP single-quantum-well (SQW) laser with wire-like active region towards quantum wire laser. Electronics Letters, 24(13), 824. doi:10.1049/el:19880561Atlasov, K. A., Calic, M., Karlsson, K. F., Gallo, P., Rudra, A., Dwir, B., & Kapon, E. (2009). Photonic-crystal microcavity laser with site-controlled quantum-wire active medium. Optics Express, 17(20), 18178. doi:10.1364/oe.17.018178Martinez, L. J., Alén, B., Prieto, I., Fuster, D., González, L., González, Y., … Postigo, P. A. (2009). Room temperature continuous wave operation in a photonic crystal microcavity laser with a single layer of InAs/InP self-assembled quantum wires. Optics Express, 17(17), 14993. doi:10.1364/oe.17.014993Mao, M.-H., & Chien, H.-C. (2012). Transient behaviors of current-injection quantum-dot microdisk lasers. Optics Express, 20(3), 3302. doi:10.1364/oe.20.003302Gregersen, N., Suhr, T., Lorke, M., & Mørk, J. (2012). Quantum-dot nano-cavity lasers with Purcell-enhanced stimulated emission. Applied Physics Letters, 100(13), 131107. doi:10.1063/1.3697702Kim, S.-H., Kim, G.-H., Kim, S.-K., Park, H.-G., Lee, Y.-H., & Kim, S.-B. (2004). Characteristics of a stick waveguide resonator in a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. Journal of Applied Physics, 95(2), 411-416. doi:10.1063/1.1633645Martínez, L. J., Prieto, I., Alén, B., & Postigo, P. A. (2009). Fabrication of high quality factor photonic crystal microcavities in InAsP∕InP membranes combining reactive ion beam etching and reactive ion etching. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures, 27(4), 1801. doi:10.1116/1.3151832Canet-Ferrer, J., Martínez, L. J., Prieto, I., Alén, B., Muñoz-Matutano, G., Fuster, D., … Martínez-Pastor, J. P. (2012). Purcell effect in photonic crystal microcavities embedding InAs/InP quantum wires. Optics Express, 20(7), 7901. doi:10.1364/oe.20.007901Alén, B., Fuster, D., Muñoz-Matutano, G., Martínez-Pastor, J., González, Y., Canet-Ferrer, J., & González, L. (2008). Exciton Gas Compression and Metallic Condensation in a Single Semiconductor Quantum Wire. Physical Review Letters, 101(6). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.067405Baba, T., & Sano, D. (2003). Low-threshold lasing and purcell effect in microdisk lasers at room temperature. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 9(5), 1340-1346. doi:10.1109/jstqe.2003.81946

Eclipses observed by LYRA - a sensitive tool to test the models for the solar irradiance

We analyze the light curves of the recent solar eclipses measured by the Herzberg channel (200-220 nm) of the Large Yield RAdiometer (LYRA) onboard PROBA-2. The measurements allow us to accurately retrieve the center- to-limb variations (CLV) of the solar brightness. The formation height of the radiation depends on the observing angle so the examination of the CLV provide information about a broad range of heights in the solar atmosphere. We employ the 1D NLTE radiative transfer COde for Solar Irradiance (COSI) to model the measured light curves and corresponding CLV dependencies. The modeling is used to test and constrain the existing 1D models of the solar atmosphere, e.g. the temperature structure of the photosphere and the treatment of the pseudo- continuum opacities in the Herzberg continuum range. We show that COSI can accurately reproduce not only the irradiance from the entire solar disk, but also the measured CLV. It hence can be used as a reliable tool for modeling the variability of the spectral solar irradiance.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures, Solar Physic

Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey with The Hubble Space Telescope: Stellar Cluster Catalogs and First Insights Into Cluster Formation and Evolution in NGC 628

We report the large effort that is producing comprehensive high-level young star cluster (YSC) catalogs for a significant fraction of galaxies observed with the Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS) Hubble treasury program. We present the methodology developed to extract cluster positions, verify their genuine nature, produce multiband photometry (from NUV to NIR), and derive their physical properties via spectral energy distribution fitting analyses. We use the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 628 as a test case for demonstrating the impact that LEGUS will have on our understanding of the formation and evolution of YSCs and compact stellar associations within their host galaxy. Our analysis of the cluster luminosity function from the UV to the NIR finds a steepening at the bright end and at all wavelengths suggesting a dearth of luminous clusters. The cluster mass function of NGC 628 is consistent with a power-law distribution of slopes $\sim -2$ and a truncation of a few times 105 ${M}_{\odot }$. After their formation, YSCs and compact associations follow different evolutionary paths. YSCs survive for a longer time frame, confirming their being potentially bound systems. Associations disappear on timescales comparable to hierarchically organized star-forming regions, suggesting that they are expanding systems. We find mass-independent cluster disruption in the inner region of NGC 628, while in the outer part of the galaxy there is little or no disruption. We observe faster disruption rates for low mass (≤104 ${M}_{\odot }$) clusters, suggesting that a mass-dependent component is necessary to fully describe the YSC disruption process in NGC 628

Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Measurement of CP observables in B± → D(⁎)K± and B± → D(⁎)π± decays

Measurements of CP observables in B ± →D (⁎) K ± and B ± →D (⁎) π ± decays are presented, where D (⁎) indicates a neutral D or D ⁎ meson that is an admixture of D (⁎)0 and D¯ (⁎)0 states. Decays of the D ⁎ meson to the Dπ 0 and Dγ final states are partially reconstructed without inclusion of the neutral pion or photon, resulting in distinctive shapes in the B candidate invariant mass distribution. Decays of the D meson are fully reconstructed in the K ± π ∓ , K + K − and π + π − final states. The analysis uses a sample of charged B mesons produced in pp collisions collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0, 1.0 and 2.0 fb −1 taken at centre-of-mass energies of s=7, 8 and 13 TeV, respectively. The study of B ± →D ⁎ K ± and B ± →D ⁎ π ± decays using a partial reconstruction method is the first of its kind, while the measurement of B ± →DK ± and B ± →Dπ ± decays is an update of previous LHCb measurements. The B ± →DK ± results are the most precise to date

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection ar

Measurement of CPCP asymmetries in D±→η′π±D^{\pm}\rightarrow \eta^{\prime} \pi^{\pm} and Ds±→η′π±D_s^{\pm}\rightarrow \eta^{\prime} \pi^{\pm} decays

See paper for full list of authors - All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2016-041.html - Submitted to Phys. Lett. BInternational audienceA search for CP violation in D±→η′π± and D±s→η′π± decays is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1, recorded by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The measured CP-violating charge asymmetries are ACP(D±→η′π±)=(−0.61±0.72±0.55±0.12)% and ACP(D±s→η′π±)=(−0.82±0.36±0.24±0.27)%, where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second systematic, and the third are the uncertainties on the ACP(D±→K0Sπ±) and ACP(D±s→ϕπ±) measurements used for calibration. The results represent the most precise measurements of these asymmetries to date