| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Quanz, S. P., et al.
(författare)
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Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) I. Improved exoplanet detection yield estimates for a large mid-infrared space-interferometer mission
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 664
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. One of the long-term goals of exoplanet science is the atmospheric characterization of dozens of small exoplanets in order to understand their diversity and search for habitable worlds and potential biosignatures. Achieving this goal requires a space mission of sufficient scale that can spatially separate the signals from exoplanets and their host stars and thus directly scrutinize the exoplanets and their atmospheres.Aims. We seek to quantify the exoplanet detection performance of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer that measures the thermal emission of exoplanets. We study the impact of various parameters and compare the performance with that of large single-aperture mission concepts that detect exoplanets in reflected light.Methods. We have developed an instrument simulator that considers all major astrophysical noise sources and coupled it with Monte Carlo simulations of a synthetic exoplanet population around main-sequence stars within 20 pc of the Sun. This allows us to quantify the number (and types) of exoplanets that our mission concept could detect. Considering single visits only, we discuss two different scenarios for distributing 2.5 yr of an initial search phase among the stellar targets. Different apertures sizes and wavelength ranges are investigated.Results. An interferometer consisting of four 2 m apertures working in the 4–18.5 μ.m wavelength range with a total instrument throughput of 5% could detect up to ≈550 exoplanets with radii between 0.5 and 6 R⊕ with an integrated S/N ≥ 7. At least ≈160 of the detected exoplanets have radii ≤1.5 R⊕. Depending on the observing scenario, ≈25–45 rocky exoplanets (objects with radii between 0.5 and 1.5 R⊕) orbiting within the empirical habitable zone (eHZ) of their host stars are among the detections. With four 3.5 m apertures, the total number of detections can increase to up to ≈770, including ≈60–80 rocky eHZ planets. With four times 1 m apertures, the maximum detection yield is ≈315 exoplanets, including ≤20 rocky eHZ planets. The vast majority of small, temperate exoplanets are detected around M dwarfs. The impact of changing the wavelength range to 3–20 μm or 6–17 μm on the detection yield is negligible.Conclusions. A large space-based MIR nulling interferometer will be able to directly detect hundreds of small, nearby exoplanets, tens of which would be habitable world candidates. This shows that such a mission can compete with large single-aperture reflected light missions. Further increasing the number of habitable world candidates, in particular around solar-type stars, appears possible via the implementation of a multi-visit strategy during the search phase. The high median S/N of most of the detected planets will allow for first estimates of their radii and effective temperatures and will help prioritize the targets for a second mission phase to obtain high-S/N thermal emission spectra, leveraging the superior diagnostic power of the MIR regime compared to shorter wavelengths.
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| 3. |
- Hemingway, F., et al.
(författare)
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Smooth muscle actin expression in primary bone tumours
- 2012
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Ingår i: Virchows Archiv: an international journal of pathology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-2307. ; 460:5, s. 525-534
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alpha isoform of smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression has been reported in giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) and other benign and malignant bone tumours, but the pattern of SMA expression and the precise nature of SMA-expressing cells in these lesions is uncertain. We determined by immunohistochemistry the expression of SMA and other muscle and vascular markers in normal bone, GCTB and a wide range of primary benign and malignant bone tumours. Cultured stromal cells of GCTB, chondroblastoma (CB), and aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) were also analysed for SMA expression. SMA was only noted in blood vessels in normal bone. SMA was expressed by mononuclear stromal cells (MSC) cultured from GCTB, ABC and CB. SMA was strongly and diffusely expressed by MSC in non-ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, and "brown tumour" of hyperparathyroidism. SMA expression was also noted in GCTB, ABC, CB, chondromyxoid fibroma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone and osteosarcoma. Little or no SMA was noted in Langerhans cell histiocytosis, simple bone cyst, Ewing's sarcoma, osteoblastoma, osteoid osteoma, enchondroma, osteochondroma, chondrosarcoma, myeloma, lymphoma, chordoma and adamantinoma. Our findings show that there is differential SMA expression in primary bone tumours and that identifying the presence or absence of SMA is useful in the differential diagnosis of these lesions. The nature of SMA-expressing cells in bone tumours is uncertain but they are negative for desmin and caldesmon and could represent either myofibroblasts or perivascular cells, such as pericytes.
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| 4. |
- Aubert, S, et al.
(författare)
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Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Adolescents: Results and Analyses From 57 Countries
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of physical activity & health. - : Human Kinetics. - 1543-5474 .- 1543-3080. ; 19:11, s. 700-728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The Global Matrix 4.0 on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents was developed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global variation in children’s and adolescents’ (5–17 y) PA, related measures, and key sources of influence. The objectives of this article were (1) to summarize the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0 Report Cards, (2) to compare indicators across countries, and (3) to explore trends related to the Human Development Index and geo-cultural regions. Methods: A total of 57 Report Card teams followed a harmonized process to grade the 10 common PA indicators. An online survey was conducted to collect Report Card Leaders’ top 3 priorities for each PA indicator and their opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child and adolescent PA indicators in their country. Results: Overall Physical Activity was the indicator with the lowest global average grade (D), while School and Community and Environment were the indicators with the highest global average grade (C+). An overview of the global situation in terms of surveillance and prevalence is provided for all 10 common PA indicators, followed by priorities and examples to support the development of strategies and policies internationally. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 represents the largest compilation of children’s and adolescents’ PA indicators to date. While variation in data sources informing the grades across countries was observed, this initiative highlighted low PA levels in children and adolescents globally. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, local/international conflicts, climate change, and economic change threaten to worsen this situation.
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| 5. |
- Bai, Shi, et al.
(författare)
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Contiguous binding of decylsulfate on the interface-binding surface of pancreatic phospholipase A2
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : ACS. - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 47:9, s. 2899-2907
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pig pancreatic IB phospholipase A(2) (PLA2) forms three distinguishable premicellar E-i(#) (i = 1, 2, and 3) complexes at successively higher decylsulfate concentrations. The Hill coefficient for E-1(#) is n(1) = 1.6, and n(2) and n(3) for E-2(#) and E-3(#) are about 8 each. Saturation-transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other complementary results with PLA2 show that decylsulfate molecules in E-2(#) and E-3(#) are contiguously and cooperatively clustered on the interface-binding surface or i-face that makes contact with the substrate interface. In these complexes, the saturation-transfer difference NMR signatures of H-1 in decylsulfate are different. The decylsulfate epitope for the successive E, complexes increasingly resembles the micellar complex formed by the binding of PLA2 to preformed micelles. Contiguous cooperative amphiphile binding is predominantly driven by the hydrophobic effect with a modest electrostatic shielding of the sulfate head group in contact with PLA2. The formation of the complexes is also associated with structural change in the enzyme. Calcium affinity of E-2(#) appears to be modestly lower than that of the free enzyme and Ell. Binding of decylsulfate to the i-face does not require the catalytic calcium required for the substrate binding to the active site and for the chemical step. These results show that E-i(#) complexes are useful to structurally characterize the cooperative sequential and contiguous binding of amphiphiles on the i-face. We suggest that the allosteric changes associated with the formation of discrete E-i(#) complexes are surrogates for the catalytic and allosteric states of the interface activated PLA2.
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| 6. |
- Berg, Otto G., et al.
(författare)
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Thermodynamic Reciprocity of the Inhibitor Binding to the Active Site and the Interface Binding Region of IB Phospholipase A2
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 48:14, s. 3209-3218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interfacial activation of pig pancreatic IB phospholipase A(2) (PLA2) is modeled in terms of the three discrete premicellar complexes (E-i(#), i = 1, 2, or 3) consecutively formed by the cooperative binding of a monodisperse amphiphile to the i-face (the interface binding region of the enzyme) without or with an occupied active site. Monodisperse PCU, the sn-2-amide analogue of the zwitterionic substrate, is a competitive inhibitor. PCU cooperatively binds to the i-face to form premicellar complexes ((E) over tilde (i), i = 1 or 2) and also binds to the active site of the premicellar complexes in the presence of calcium. In the (E) over tilde I-i complex formed in the presence of PCU and calcium, one inhibitor molecule is bound to the active site and a number of others are bound to the i-face. The properties of the (E) over tilde (i) complexes with PCU are qualitatively similar to those of E-i(#) formed with decylsulfate. Decylsulfate binds to the i-face but does not bind to the active site in the presence of calcium, nor does it interfere with the binding of PCU to the active site in the premicellar complexes. Due to the strong coupling between binding at the i-face and at the active site, it is difficult to estimate the primary binding constants for each site in these complexes. A model is developed that incorporates the above boundary conditions in relation to a detailed balance between the complexes. A key result is that a modest effect on cooperative amphiphile binding corresponds to a large change in the affinity of the inhibitor for the active site. We suggest that besides the binding to the active site, PCU also binds to another site and that full activation requires additional amphiphiles on the i-face. Thus, the activation of the inhibitor binding to the active site of the E-2(#) complex or, equivalently, the shift in the E-1(#) to E-2(#) equilibrium by the inhibitor is analogous to the allosteric activation of the substrate binding to the enzyme bound to the interface.
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| 7. |
- Bodhika, J. A. P., et al.
(författare)
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A preliminary study on characteristics of thunder pulses of lightning
- 2014
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Ingår i: 2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LIGHTNING PROTECTION (ICLP). - : IEEE conference proceedings. - 9781479935444 ; , s. 260-264
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thunder is the acoustic emission associated with lightning discharges. Thunder signatures have been analyzed by many scientists with the aim of understanding the energy, channel tortuosity and localization of lightning channel. In describing thunder features, a few subjective terms such as clap, roll and rumble have been used in the literature inconsistently with no proper definitions. In this study the features of pressure pulses such as occurrence characteristics and their relative amplitudes were analyzed to understand some of the above mentioned thunder features. Those subjective terms, clap, peal, roll and rumble were quantified along with relative pulse amplitudes and confirmed by listening the recorded thunder signals carefully. The relative peak amplitudes of the pulses of rumble were less than 20% of the peak pulses of the thunder signal and for roll it was between 20% to 40%. Pulses with relative amplitudes greater than 40% were identified as claps. The most significant contribution to the sound in a thunder flash is due to claps, which was studied separately in this study. The number of claps in a thunder flash, their frequency variation, durations, and pulse characteristics has been studied. The frequency of pressure oscillations within these claps are being less than 300 Hz. According to this study, 62% of the flashes consist of 1 to 2 claps. The activity of the thunder signal is high in initial half than the latter half. Thunder signals analyzed in this study is recorded by a microphone system with wide bandwidth range from 6 to 20 kHz.
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| 8. |
- Bodhika, J. A. P., et al.
(författare)
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Characteristics of thunder pertinent to tropical lightning
- 2018
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Ingår i: 34th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) (ICLP 2018). - : IEEE. - 9781538666357
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Acoustic effects of lightning flashes are not well studied. Thunder also destructive as electric fields do. Thunder flashes of tropical lightning occurred in Hambantota (81(0) 0'E, 6(0) 10'N) close to the southern coast of Sri Lanka were studied. About 90 thunder flashes recorded with the sampling rate of 100 kS/s in 45 s windows were analyzed to identify their characteristics and damaging effects. Results of the analysis on duration of thunder flashes, peak sound pressure levels, occurrence of thunder claps and frequency distribution were presented. The shortest and longest duration of thunder recorded were 2.2 sec and 33.7 sec respectively. About 75% of thunder flashes were remained for about 5-20 sec. The frequency spectrum of a thunder signal could spread up to 1500 Hz. The peak sound pressure level of 30% of recorded thunder flashes at least 3 km away from the lightning were higher than 2 Nm(-2) (100 dB). One to five claps were identified in thunder flashes with 62% having 1 or 2 claps. Sound pressure level, frequency range and its duration are required quantities to estimate the harmful effects of thunder.
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| 9. |
- Bodhika, J. A. P., et al.
(författare)
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Reconstruction of lightning channel geometry by localizing thunder sources
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1364-6826 .- 1879-1824. ; 102, s. 81-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thunder is generated as a result of a shock wave created by sudden expansion of air in the lightning channel due to high temperature variations. Even though the highest amplitudes of thunder signatures are generated at the return stroke stage, thunder signals generated at other events such as preliminary breakdown pulses also can be of amplitudes which are large enough to record using a sensitive system. In this study, it was attempted to reconstruct the lightning channel geometry of cloud and ground flashes by locating the temporal and spatial variations of thunder sources. Six lightning flashes were reconstructed using the recorded thunder signatures. Possible effects due to atmospheric conditions were neglected. Numerical calculations suggest that the time resolution of the recorded signal and 10 ms(-1)error in speed of sound leads to 2% and 3% errors, respectively, in the calculated coordinates. Reconstructed channel geometries for cloud and ground flashes agreed with the visual observations. Results suggest that the lightning channel can be successfully reconstructed using this technique.
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| 10. |
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