ESASky v.2.0: all the skies in your browser

With the goal of simplifying the access to science data to scientists and citizens, ESA recently released ESASky (http://sky.esa.int), a new open-science easy-to-use portal with the science-ready Astronomy data from ESA and other major data providers. In this presentation, we announced version 2.0 of the application, which includes access to all science-ready images, catalogues and spectra, a feature to help planning of future JWST observations, the possibility to search for data of all (targeted and serendipitously observed) Solar System Objects in Astronomy images, a first support to mobile devices and several other smaller usability features. We also discussed the future evolution of the portal and the lessons learnt from the 1+ year of operations from the point of view of access, visualization and manipulation of big datasets (all sky maps, also called HiPS) and large catalogues (like e.g. the Gaia DR1 catalogues or the Hubble Source Catalogue) and the design and validation principles for the development of friendly GUIs for thin layer web clients aimed at scientists.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, ADASS 2017 conference proceeding

Characterization-Based Modeling of Retriggering and Afterpulsing for Passively Quenched CMOS SPADs

The current trend in the design of systems based on CMOS SPADs is to adopt smaller technological nodes, allowing the co-integration of additional electronics for the implementation of complex digital systems on chip. Due to their simplicity, a way to reduce the area occupied by the integrated electronics is the use of passive quenching circuits (PQCs) instead of active (AQCs) or mixed (MQCs) ones. However, the recharge phase in PQCs is slower, so the device can be retriggered before this phase ends. This paper studies the phenomena of afterpulsing and retriggering, depending on the characteristics of the SPADs and the working conditions. In order to do that, a test chip containing SPADs of different size has been characterized in several operating environments. A mathematical model has been proposed for fitting afterpulsing phenomenon. It is shown that retriggering can be also described in terms of this model, suggesting that it is linked to carriers trapped in the shallow levels of the semiconductor and that should be taken into account when considering the total amount of afterpulsing events.Junta de Andalucía TIC 233

The Changing of Characterization of the Main Character in David Nicholls' One Day

This study deals with The Changing of Characterization of The Main Characters in David Nicholls' One Day. The objectives of this study are to find out the changing of characterization and the reasons that cause the changing in the novel. This study is limited to analyze Dexter Mayhew as the main character. This study applied descriptive qualitative method. The data were taken from David Nicholls' novel One Day. The findings indicate that Dexter has round and negative side as his nature; Arrogant, Ambitious, Hedonistic and Selfish. The character finally ended to the positive characterization; being responsible and mature. The reason causing the changing of characterization of the main character is that facing a major outside challenge, developing a close relationship with someone very diffrent from himself such as Sylvie, Jasmine and Emma, and facing his own inner demons and prejudices

Characterization of electrical crosstalk in 4T-APS arrays using TCAD simulations

TCAD simulations have been conducted on a CMOS image sensor in order to characterize the electrical component of the crosstalk between pixels through the study of the electric field distribution. The image sensor consists on a linear array of five pinned photodiodes (PPD) with their transmission gates, floating diffusion and reset transistors. The effect of the variations of the thickness of the epitaxial layer has been addressed as well. In fact, the depth of the boundary of the epitaxial layer affects quantum efficiency (QE) so a correlation with crosstalk has been identified.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2015-66878-C3-1RJunta de Andalucía TIC 2012-2338Office of Naval Research (USA) N00014141035

Production and characterization of silver nanoparticles in cultures of the cyanobacterium A. platensis (Spirulina)

The increasing application of Silver nanoparticles in biologically-relevant areas (including production of textiles, cosmetics, and biomedical devices), where their presence provides a continuous release of silver ions to provide protection against bacteria and other unwanted microbial contaminants urges adoption of intrinsically biologically safe production processes. Various species of cyanobacteria and algae have been known to absorb and take up heavy metal ions. This capability is shown also by Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), a cyanobacterium that enjoys the Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) status and has been declared by WHO one among the greatest superfood. The present study aims at investigating the coupling between the recognised beneficial effects of Spirulina biomass to the antimicrobial activity of Ag nanoparticles (SNPs). In this work, Spirulina was grown in sequential cultures targeting biomass production and nanoparticle formation. The cultures were conditioned during their lifetime in order to assess the effect of pH and added polysaccharides on the size and on the stability of the obtained SNPs. The synthesized SNPs were characterized as to their size and stability (Nanosizer), composition (XRD) and structural aspect (Scanning Electron Microscope)

Synthesis and characterization of nanometric titania coated on granular alumina for arsenic removal

The adsorption process is widely used for the treatment of drinking water sources containing high levels of arsenic. The choice of the adsorbent is crucial for the efficiency of the process. Very good performances were obtained in the past by activated alumina, while more recent studies have shown that also other media such as titanium oxide can provide high removal rates. In the present work, four types of adsorbents were tested for their removal capability of pentavalent arsenic from liquid solutions. Specifically, it was investigated if modifications of activated alumina by coating with titanium oxide nanoparticles or by reducing particle size might improve their performance. The adsorbents were firstly characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET specific area measurement and SEM analysis. Then, kinetics, equilibrium isotherm experiments were conducted in batch mode at fixed pH. All the tested adsorbents showed satisfactory arsenic removal, with the best performance obtained by the mesoporous gamma-alumina which had the lowest grain size. The titanium coating did not appear to significantly improve adsorption capacity. The kinetic data were best fitted by the pseudo-second order model, while both the Freundlich and the Langmuir equations well represented the adsorption isotherm data

The Changing of Characterization of the Main Character in David Nicholls\u27 One Day

This study deals with The Changing of Characterization of The Main Characters in David Nicholls\u27 One Day. The objectives of this study are to find out the changing of characterization and the reasons that cause the changing in the novel. This study is limited to analyze Dexter Mayhew as the main character. This study applied descriptive qualitative method. The data were taken from David Nicholls\u27 novel One Day. The findings indicate that Dexter has round and negative side as his nature; Arrogant, Ambitious, Hedonistic and Selfish. The character finally ended to the positive characterization; being responsible and mature. The reason causing the changing of characterization of the main character is that facing a major outside challenge, developing a close relationship with someone very diffrent from himself such as Sylvie, Jasmine and Emma, and facing his own inner demons and prejudices

Genetic characterization of influenza A(H3N2) viruses circulating in coastal Kenya, 2009-2017

Background Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and undergo immune driven selection, especially in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein. We report amino acid changes affecting antigenic epitopes and receptor‐binding sites of A(H3N2) viruses circulating in Kilifi, Kenya, from 2009 to 2017. Methods Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was used to generate A(H3N2) virus genomic data from influenza‐positive specimens collected from hospital admissions and health facility outpatients presenting with acute respiratory illness to health facilities within the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Full‐length HA sequences were utilized to characterize A(H3N2) virus genetic and antigenic changes. Results From 186 (90 inpatient and 96 outpatient) influenza A virus‐positive specimens processed, 101 A(H3N2) virus whole genomes were obtained. Among viruses identified in inpatient specimens from 2009 to 2015, divergence of circulating A(H3N2) viruses from the vaccine strains A/Perth/16/2009, A/Texas/50/2012, and A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 formed 6 genetic clades (A/Victoria/208/2009‐like, 3B, 3C, 3C.2a, 4, and 7). Among viruses identified in outpatient specimens from 2015 to 2017, divergence of circulating A(H3N2) viruses from vaccine strain A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 formed clade 3C.2a, subclades 3C.2a2 and 3C.2a3, and subgroup 3C.2a1b. Several amino acid substitutions were associated with the continued genetic evolution of A(H3N2) strains in circulation. Conclusions Our results suggest continuing evolution of currently circulating A(H3N2) viruses in Kilifi, coastal Kenya and suggest the need for continuous genetic and antigenic viral surveillance of circulating seasonal influenza viruses with broad geographic representation to facilitate prompt and efficient selection of influenza strains for inclusion in future influenza vaccines