| 1. |
- Aguilar, J. A., et al.
(författare)
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Triboelectric backgrounds to radio-based polar ultra-high energy neutrino (UHEN) experiments
- 2023
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Ingår i: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the hopes of observing the highest-energy neutrinos (E> 1 EeV) populating the Universe, both past (RICE, AURA, ANITA) and current (RNO-G, ARIANNA, ARA and TAROGE-M) polar-sited experiments exploit the impulsive radio emission produced by neutrino interactions. In such experiments, rare single event candidates must be unambiguously identified above backgrounds. Background rejection strategies to date primarily target thermal noise fluctuations and also impulsive radio-frequency signals of anthropogenic origin. In this paper, we consider the possibility that 'fake' neutrino signals may also be generated naturally via the `triboelectric effect' This broadly describes any process in which force applied at a boundary layer results in displacement of surface charge, leading to the production of an electrostatic potential difference AV. Wind blowing over granular surfaces such as snow can induce such a potential difference, with subsequent coronal discharge. Discharges over timescales as short as nanoseconds can then lead to radio-frequency emissions at characteristic MHz-GHz frequencies. Using data from various past (RICE, AURA, SATRA, ANITA) and current (RNO G, ARIANNA and ARA) neutrino experiments, we find evidence for such backgrounds, which are generally characterized by: (a) a threshold wind velocity which likely depends on the experimental trigger criteria and layout; for the experiments considered herein, this value is typically O(10 m/s), (b) frequency spectra generally shifted to the low-end of the frequency regime to which current radio experiments are typically sensitive (100-200 MHz), (c) for the strongest background signals, an apparent preference for discharges from above-surface structures, although the presence of more isotropic, lower amplitude triboelectric discharges cannot be excluded.
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| 2. |
- Aguilar, J. A., et al.
(författare)
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In situ, broadband measurement of the radio frequency attenuation length at Summit Station, Greenland
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Glaciology. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0022-1430 .- 1727-5652. ; 68:272, s. 1234-1242
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the last 25 years, radiowave detection of neutrino-generated signals, using cold polar ice as the neutrino target, has emerged as perhaps the most promising technique for detection of extragalactic ultra-high energy neutrinos (corresponding to neutrino energies in excess of 0.01 Joules, or 10(17) electron volts). During the summer of 2021 and in tandem with the initial deployment of the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G), we conducted radioglaciological measurements at Summit Station, Greenland to refine our understanding of the ice target. We report the result of one such measurement, the radio-frequency electric field attenuation length L-alpha. We find an approximately linear dependence of L-alpha on frequency with the best fit of the average field attenuation for the upper 1500 m of ice: < L-alpha > = ((1154 +/- 121) - (0.81 +/- 0.14) (v/MHz)) m for frequencies v is an element of [145 - 3501 MHz.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Aguilar, J. A., et al.
(författare)
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Design and sensitivity of the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G)
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1748-0221. ; 16:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article presents the design of the Radio Neutrino Observatory Greenland (RNO-G) and discusses its scientific prospects. Using an array of radio sensors, RNO-G seeks to measure neutrinos above 10 PeV by exploiting the Askaryan effect in neutrino-induced cascades in ice. We discuss the experimental considerations that drive the design of RNO-G, present first measurements of the hardware that is to be deployed and discuss the projected sensitivity of the instrument. RNO-G will be the first production-scale radio detector for in-ice neutrino signals.
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| 5. |
- Aguilar, J. A., et al.
(författare)
-
Hardware Development for the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G)
- 2022
-
Ingår i: 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC2021. - Trieste, Italy : Proceedings of Science.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) is designed to make the first observations of ultra-high energy neutrinos at energies above 10 PeV, playing a unique role in multi-messenger astrophysics as the world's largest in-ice Askaryan radio detection array. The experiment will be composed of 35 autonomous stations deployed over a 5 x 6 km grid near NSF Summit Station in Greenland. The electronics chain of each station is optimized for sensitivity and low power, incorporating 150 - 600 MHz RF antennas at both the surface and in ice boreholes, low-noise amplifiers, custom RF-over-fiber systems, and an FPGA-based phased array trigger. Each station will consume 25 W of power, allowing for a live time of 70% from a solar power system. The communications system is composed of a high-bandwidth LTE network and an ultra-low power LoRaWAN network. I will also present on the calibration and DAQ systems, as well as status of the first deployment of 10 stations in Summer 2021.
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| 6. |
- Aguilar, J. A., et al.
(författare)
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Reconstructing the neutrino energy for in-ice radio detectors
- 2022
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Nature. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 82:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since summer 2021, the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G) is searching for astrophysical neutrinos at energies > 10 PeV by detecting the radio emission from particle showers in the ice around Summit Station, Greenland. We present an extensive simulation study that shows how RNO-G will be able to measure the energy of such particle cascades, which will in turn be used to estimate the energy of the incoming neutrino that caused them. The location of the neutrino interaction is determined using the differences in arrival times between channels and the electric field of the radio signal is reconstructed using a novel approach based on Information Field Theory. Based on these properties, the shower energy can be estimated. We show that this method can achieve an uncertainty of 13% on the logarithm of the shower energy after modest quality cuts and estimate how this can constrain the energy of the neutrino. The method presented in this paper is applicable to all similar radio neutrino detectors, such as the proposed radio array of IceCube-Gen2.
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| 7. |
- Anker, A., et al.
(författare)
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A search for cosmogenic neutrinos with the ARIANNA test bed using 4.5 years of data
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1475-7516. ; :3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The primary mission of the ARIANNA ultra-high energy neutrino telescope is to uncover astrophysical sources of neutrinos with energies greater than 10(16) eV. A pilot array, consisting of seven ARIANNA stations located on the surface of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, was commissioned in November 2014. We report on the search for astrophysical neutrinos using data collected between November 2014 and February 2019. A straight-forward template matching analysis yielded no neutrino candidates, with a signal efficiency of 79%. We find a 90% confidence upper limit on the diffuse neutrino flux of E-2 Phi = 1.7 x 10(-6) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) for a decade wide logarithmic bin centered at a neutrino energy of 10(18),eV, which is an order of magnitude improvement compared to the previous limit reported by the ARIANNA collaboration. The ARIANNA stations, including purpose built cosmic-ray stations at the Moore's Bay site and demonstrator stations at the South Pole, have operated reliably. Sustained operation at two distinct sites confirms that the flexible and adaptable architecture can be deployed in any deep ice, radio quiet environment. We show that the scientific capabilities, technical innovations, and logistical requirements of ARIANNA are sufficiently well understood to serve as the basis for large area radio-based neutrino telescope with a wide field-of-view.
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| 8. |
- Anker, A., et al.
(författare)
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Improving sensitivity of the ARIANNA detector by rejecting thermal noise with deep learning
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-0221. ; 17:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ARIANNA experiment is an Askaryan detector designed to record radio signals induced by neutrino interactions in the Antarctic ice. Because of the low neutrino flux at high energies (E-nu > 10(16 )eV), the physics output is limited by statistics. Hence, an increase in sensitivity significantly improves the interpretation of data and offers the ability to probe new parameter spaces. The amplitudes of the trigger threshold are limited by the rate of triggering on unavoidable thermal noise fluctuations. We present a real-time thermal noise rejection algorithm that enables the trigger thresholds to be lowered, which increases the sensitivity to neutrinos by up to a factor of two (depending on energy) compared to the current ARIANNA capabilities. A deep learning discriminator, based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), is implemented to identify and remove thermal events in real time. We describe a CNN trained on MC data that runs on the current ARIANNA microcomputer and retains 95% of the neutrino signal at a thermal noise rejection factor of 10(5), compared to a template matching procedure which reaches only 10(2) for the same signal efficiency. Then the results are verified in a lab measurement by feeding in generated neutrino-like signal pulses and thermal noise directly into the ARIANNA data acquisition system. Lastly, the same CNN is used to classify cosmic-rays events to make sure they are not rejected. The network classified 102 out of 104 cosmic-ray events as signal.
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| 9. |
- Anker, A., et al.
(författare)
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Measuring the polarization reconstruction resolution of the ARIANNA neutrino detector with cosmic rays
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1475-7516. ; :4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ARIANNA detector is designed to detect neutrinos with energies above 10(17) eV. Due to the similarities in generated radio signals, cosmic rays are often used as test beams for neutrino detectors. Some ARIANNA detector stations are equipped with antennas capable of detecting air showers. Since the radio emission properties of air showers are well understood, and the polarization of the radio signal can be predicted from the arrival direction, cosmic rays can be used as a proxy to assess the reconstruction capabilities of the ARIANNA neutrino detector. We report on dedicated efforts of reconstructing the polarization of cosmic-ray radio pulses. After correcting for difference in hardware, the two stations used in this study showed similar performance in terms of event rate and agreed with simulation. Subselecting high quality cosmic rays, the polarizations of these cosmic rays were reconstructed with a resolution of 2.5 degrees (68% containment), which agrees with the expected value obtained from simulation. A large fraction of this resolution originates from uncertainties in the predicted polarization because of the contribution of the subdominant Askaryan effect in addition to the dominant geomagnetic emission. Subselecting events with a zenith angle greater than 70 degrees removes most influence of the Askaryan emission, and, with limited statistics, we found the polarization uncertainty is reduced to 1.3 degrees (68% containment).
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| 10. |
- Anker, A., et al.
(författare)
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Neutrino vertex reconstruction with in-ice radio detectors using surface reflections and implications for the neutrino energy resolution
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1475-7516. ; :11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ultra high energy neutrinos (E-nu >10(16.5) eV) are efficiently measured via radio signals following a neutrino interaction in ice. An antenna placed O(15 m) below the ice surface will measure two signals for the vast majority of events (90% at E-nu = 10(18) eV): a direct pulse and a second delayed pulse from a reflection off the ice surface. This allows for a unique identification of neutrinos against backgrounds arriving from above. Furthermore, the time delay between the direct and reflected signal (D'n'R) correlates with the distance to the neutrino interaction vertex, a crucial quantity to determine the neutrino energy. In a simulation study, we derive the relation between time delay and distance and study the corresponding experimental uncertainties in estimating neutrino energies. We find that the resulting contribution to the energy resolution is well below the natural limit set by the unknown inelasticity in the initial neutrino interaction. We present an in-situ measurement that proves the experimental feasibility of this technique. Continuous monitoring of the local snow accumulation in the vicinity of the transmit and receive antennas using this technique provide a precision of O(1mm) in surface elevation, which is much better than that needed to apply the D'n'R technique to neutrinos.
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| 11. |
- Anker, A., et al.
(författare)
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Probing the angular and polarization reconstruction of the ARIANNA detector at the South Pole
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 15:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The sources of ultra-high energy (UHE) cosmic rays, which can have energies up to 10(20) eV, remain a mystery. UHE neutrinos may provide important clues to understanding the nature of cosmic-ray sources. ARIANNA aims to detect UHE neutrinos via radio (Askaryan) emission from particle showers when a neutrino interacts with ice, which is an efficient method for neutrinos with energies between 10(16) eV and 10(20) eV. The ARIANNA radio detectors are located in Antarctic ice just beneath the surface. Neutrino observation requires that radio pulses propagate to the antennas at the surface with minimum distortion by the ice and firn medium. Using the residual hole from the South Pole Ice Core Project, radio pulses were emitted from a transmitter located up to 1.7 km below the snow surface. By measuring these signals with an ARIANNA surface station, the angular and polarization reconstruction abilities are quantified, which are required to measure the direction of the neutrino. After deconvolving the raw signals for the detector response and attenuation from propagation through the ice, the signal pulses show no significant distortion and agree with a reference measurement of the emitter made in an anechoic chamber. Furthermore, the signal pulses reveal no significant birefringence for our tested geometry of mostly vertical ice propagation. The origin of the transmitted radio pulse was measured with an angular resolution of 0.37 degrees indicating that the neutrino direction can be determined with good precision if the polarization of the radio-pulse can be well determined. In the present study we obtained a resolution of the polarization vector of 2.7 degrees. Neither measurement show a significant offset relative to expectation.
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| 12. |
- Discepola, MN, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of non-pharmacological and non-surgical interventions on health outcomes in systemic sclerosis: protocol for a living systematic review
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:5, s. e047428-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is a rare, chronic, autoimmune disease with a high level of burden, a significant impact on the ability to carry out daily activities, and a considerable negative impact on health-related quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions could be provided to potentially improve mental and physical health outcomes. However, the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions on health and well-being among individuals with SSc has not been well established. The proposed living systematic review aims to identify and evaluate randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological and non-surgical interventions on mental and physical health outcomes and on the delivery of such services in SSc.Methods and analysisEligible studies will be RCTs that examine non-pharmacological and non-surgical interventions aimed at improving health outcomes among individuals with SSc or the delivery of services intended to improve healthcare or support of people with SSc (eg, support groups). All RCTs included in a previous systematic review that sought studies published between 1990 and March 2014 will be evaluated for inclusion. Additional trials will be sought from January 2014 onwards using a similar, augmented search strategy developed by a health sciences librarian. We will search the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases and will not restrict by language. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of identified RCTs and will extract data using a prespecified standardised form in DistillerSR. Meta-analyses will be considered if ≥2 eligible RCTs report similar non-pharmacological interventions and comparable health outcomes. We will conduct a qualitative synthesis for interventions that cannot be synthesised via meta-analysis.Ethics and disseminationWe will post initial and ongoing results via a website, publish results periodically via peer-reviewed journal publication, and present results at patient-oriented events.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020219914.
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| 13. |
- Kowal-Bielecka, Otylia, et al.
(författare)
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Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis
- 2017
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 76, s. 1327-1339
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to update the 2009 European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with attention to new therapeutic questions. Update of the previous treatment recommendations was performed according to EULAR standard operating procedures. The task force consisted of 32 SSc clinical experts from Europe and the USA, 2 patients nominated by the pan-European patient association for SSc (Federation of European Scleroderma Associations (FESCA)), a clinical epidemiologist and 2 research fellows. All centres from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group were invited to submit and select clinical questions concerning SSc treatment using a Delphi approach. Accordingly, 46 clinical questions addressing 26 different interventions were selected for systematic literature review. The new recommendations were based on the available evidence and developed in a consensus meeting with clinical experts and patients. The procedure resulted in 16 recommendations being developed (instead of 14 in 2009) that address treatment of several SSc-related organ complications: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), skin and lung disease, scleroderma renal crisis and gastrointestinal involvement. Compared with the 2009 recommendations, the 2016 recommendations include phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors for the treatment of SSc-related RP and DUs, riociguat, new aspects for endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogues and PDE-5 inhibitors for SSc-related PAH. New recommendations regarding the use of fluoxetine for SSc-related RP and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for selected patients with rapidly progressive SSc were also added. In addition, several comments regarding other treatments addressed in clinical questions and suggestions for the SSc research agenda were formulated. These updated data-derived and consensus-derived recommendations will help rheumatologists to manage patients with SSc in an evidence-based way. These recommendations also give directions for future clinical research in SSc.
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| 14. |
- Dimmock, Andrew P., et al.
(författare)
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Modeling the Geomagnetic Response to the September 2017 Space Weather Event Over Fennoscandia Using the Space Weather Modeling Framework : Studying the Impacts of Spatial Resolution
- 2021
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Ingår i: Space Weather. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 1542-7390. ; 19:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We must be able to predict and mitigate against geomagnetically induced current (GIC) effects to minimize socio-economic impacts. This study employs the space weather modeling framework (SWMF) to model the geomagnetic response over Fennoscandia to the September 7-8, 2017 event. Of key importance to this study is the effects of spatial resolution in terms of regional forecasts and improved GIC modeling results. Therefore, we ran the model at comparatively low, medium, and high spatial resolutions. The virtual magnetometers from each model run are compared with observations from the IMAGE magnetometer network across various latitudes and over regional-scales. The virtual magnetometer data from the SWMF are coupled with a local ground conductivity model which is used to calculate the geoelectric field and estimate GICs in a Finnish natural gas pipeline. This investigation has lead to several important results in which higher resolution yielded: (1) more realistic amplitudes and timings of GICs, (2) higher amplitude geomagnetic disturbances across latitudes, and (3) increased regional variations in terms of differences between stations. Despite this, substorms remain a significant challenge to surface magnetic field prediction from global magnetohydrodynamic modeling. For example, in the presence of multiple large substorms, the associated large-amplitude depressions were not captured, which caused the largest model-data deviations. The results from this work are of key importance to both modelers and space weather operators. Particularly when the goal is to obtain improved regional forecasts of geomagnetic disturbances and/or more realistic estimates of the geoelectric field.
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| 15. |
- Haaland, S., et al.
(författare)
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Estimation of cold plasma outflow during geomagnetic storms
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:12, s. 10622-10639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low-energy ions of ionospheric origin constitute a significant contributor to the magnetospheric plasma population. Measuring cold ions is difficult though. Observations have to be done at sufficiently high altitudes and typically in regions of space where spacecraft attain a positive charge due to solar illumination. Cold ions are therefore shielded from the satellite particle detectors. Furthermore, spacecraft can only cover key regions of ion outflow during segments of their orbit, so additional complications arise if continuous longtime observations, such as during a geomagnetic storm, are needed. In this paper we suggest a new approach, based on a combination of synoptic observations and a novel technique to estimate the flux and total outflow during the various phases of geomagnetic storms. Our results indicate large variations in both outflow rates and transport throughout the storm. Prior to the storm main phase, outflow rates are moderate, and the cold ions are mainly emanating from moderately sized polar cap regions. Throughout the main phase of the storm, outflow rates increase and the polar cap source regions expand. Furthermore, faster transport, resulting from enhanced convection, leads to a much larger supply of cold ions to the near-Earth region during geomagnetic storms.
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| 16. |
- Jordanova, V. K., et al.
(författare)
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Specification of the near-Earth space environment with SHIELDS
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 1364-6826 .- 1879-1824. ; 177, s. 148-159
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Predicting variations in the near-Earth space environment that can lead to spacecraft damage and failure is one example of "space weather" and a big space physics challenge. A project recently funded through the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program aims at developing a new capability to understand, model, and predict Space Hazards Induced near Earth by Large Dynamic Storms, the SHIELDS framework. The project goals are to understand the dynamics of the surface charging environment (SCE), the hot (keV) electrons representing the source and seed populations for the radiation belts, on both macro and micro-scale. Important physics questions related to particle injection and acceleration associated with magnetospheric storms and substorms, as well as plasma waves, are investigated. These challenging problems are addressed using a team of world-class experts in the fields of space science and computational plasma physics, and state-of-the-art models and computational facilities. A full two-way coupling of physics-based models across multiple scales, including a global MHD (BATS-R-US) embedding a particle-in-cell (iPIC3D) and an inner magnetosphere (RAM-SCB) codes, is achieved. New data assimilation techniques employing in situ satellite data are developed; these provide an order of magnitude improvement in the accuracy in the simulation of the SCE. SHIELDS also includes a post-processing tool designed to calculate the surface charging for specific spacecraft geometry using the Curvilinear Particle-In-Cell (CPIC) code that can be used for reanalysis of satellite failures or for satellite design.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Liemohn, Michael W., et al.
(författare)
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Model Evaluation Guidelines for Geomagnetic Index Predictions
- 2018
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Ingår i: Space Weather. - 1542-7390. ; 16:12, s. 2079-2102
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Geomagnetic indices are convenient quantities that distill the complicated physics of some region or aspect of near‐Earth space into a single parameter. Most of the best‐known indices are calculated from ground‐based magnetometer data sets, such as Dst, SYM‐H, Kp, AE, AL, and PC. Many models have been created that predict the values of these indices, often using solar wind measurements upstream from Earth as the input variables to the calculation. This document reviews the current state of models that predict geomagnetic indices and the methods used to assess their ability to reproduce the target index time series. These existing methods are synthesized into a baseline collection of metrics for benchmarking a new or updated geomagnetic index prediction model. These methods fall into two categories: (1) fit performance metrics such as root‐mean‐square error and mean absolute error that are applied to a time series comparison of model output and observations and (2) event detection performance metrics such as Heidke Skill Score and probability of detection that are derived from a contingency table that compares model and observation values exceeding (or not) a threshold value. A few examples of codes being used with this set of metrics are presented, and other aspects of metrics assessment best practices, limitations, and uncertainties are discussed, including several caveats to consider when using geomagnetic indices.
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| 19. |
- Wang, Shih-Hao, et al.
(författare)
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TAROGE-M : radio antenna array on antarctic high mountain for detecting near-horizontal ultra-high energy air showers
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1475-7516. ; :11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The TAROGE-M radio observatory is a self-triggered antenna array on top of the similar to 2700m high Mt. Melbourne in Antarctica, designed to detect impulsive geomagnetic emission from extensive air showers induced by ultra-high energy (UHE) particles beyond 1017 eV, including cosmic rays, Earth-skimming tau neutrinos, and particularly, the "ANITA anomalous events" (AAE) from near and below the horizon. The six AAE discovered by the ANITA experiment have signal features similar to tau neutrinos but that hypothesis is in tension either with the interaction length predicted by Standard Model or with the flux limits set by other experiments. Their origin remains uncertain, requiring more experimental inputs for clarification. The detection concept of TAROGE-M takes advantage of a high altitude with synoptic view toward the horizon as an efficient signal collector, and the radio quietness as well as strong and near vertical geomagnetic field in Antarctica, enhancing the relative radio signal strength. This approach has a low energy threshold, high duty cycle, and is easy to extend for quickly enlarging statistics. Here we report experimental results from the first TAROGEM station deployed in January 2020, corresponding to approximately one month of livetime. The station consists of six receiving antennas operating at 180-450 MHz, and can reconstruct source directions of impulsive events with an angular resolution of similar to 0.3 ffi, calibrated in situ with a drone-borne pulser system. To demonstrate TAROGE-M's ability to detect UHE air showers, a search for cosmic ray signals in 25.3-days of data together with the detection simulation were conducted, resulting in seven identified candidates. The detected events have a mean reconstructed energy of 0.95+0.46 -0.31 EeV and zenith angles ranging from 25 ffi to 82 ffi, with both distributions agreeing with the simulations, indicating an energy threshold at about 0.3 EeV. The estimated cosmic ray flux at that energy is 1.2+0.7 -0.9x10(-16) eV(-1) km(-2) yr(-1) sr(-1), also consistent with results of other experiments. The TAROGE-M sensitivity to AAEs is approximated by the tau neutrino exposure with simulations, which suggests comparable sensitivity as ANITA's at around 1 EeV energy with a few station-years of operation. These first results verified the station design and performance in a polar and high-altitude environment, and are promising for further discovery of tau neutrinos and AAEs after an extension in the near future.
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| 20. |
- Welling, J. B. A., et al.
(författare)
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Patient Selection for Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. - 1178-2005. ; 15, s. 871-881
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is a valuable treatment option for carefully selected patients with severe COPD. There is limited knowledge about the characteristics and outcomes of patients referred to a specialized center for BLVR. The study objectives were to investigate the selection rate for BLVR treatment in patients referred for this treatment and to investigate the differences between patients that were selected for BLVR and patients that were not. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with severe COPD who were referred to our hospital to assess eligibility for BLVR treatment. Our parameters included demographics, comorbidity, chest computed tomography characteristics, reasons for rejection from BLVR treatment and patient survival. Results: In total, 1500 patients were included (mean age 62 years, 50% female and forced expiratory volume in 1 s 33% of predicted). Out of this group, 282 (19%) patients were selected for BLVR treatment. The absence of a suitable target lobe for treatment, an unsuitable disease phenotype and insufficient lung hyperinflation were the most important factors for not being selected. Patients that were selected for any BLVR option lived significantly longer than the group of patients that were not selected for BLVR (median 3060 versus 2079 days, P<0.001). Conclusion: We found that only a small proportion of patients that are referred for BLVR treatment is eligible for a BLVR treatment, indicating a need for both better referral tools and for the development of new therapies for this group of patients. Furthermore, our data suggest that selection for BLVR is associated with a significant survival benefit.
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| 21. |
- Zhang, Q., et al.
(författare)
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Na+ current properties in islet alpha- and beta-cells reflect cell-specific Scn3a and Scn9a expression
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Physiology-London. - : Wiley. - 0022-3751 .- 1469-7793. ; 592:21, s. 4677-4696
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- - and -cells express both Na(v)1.3 and Na(v)1.7 Na+ channels but in different relative amounts. The differential expression explains the different properties of Na+ currents in - and -cells. Na(v)1.3 is the functionally important Na+ channel subunit in both - and -cells. Islet Na(v)1.7 channels are locked in an inactive state due to an islet cell-specific factor. Mouse pancreatic - and -cells are equipped with voltage-gated Na+ currents that inactivate over widely different membrane potentials (half-maximal inactivation (V-0.5) at -100mV and -50mV in - and -cells, respectively). Single-cell PCR analyses show that both - and -cells have Na(v)1.3 (Scn3) and Na(v)1.7 (Scn9a) subunits, but their relative proportions differ: -cells principally express Na(v)1.7 and -cells Na(v)1.3. In -cells, genetically ablating Scn3a reduces the Na+ current by 80%. In -cells, knockout of Scn9a lowers the Na+ current by >85%, unveiling a small Scn3a-dependent component. Glucagon and insulin secretion are inhibited in Scn3a(-/-) islets but unaffected in Scn9a-deficient islets. Thus, Na(v)1.3 is the functionally important Na+ channel subunit in both - and -cells because Na(v)1.7 is largely inactive at physiological membrane potentials due to its unusually negative voltage dependence of inactivation. Interestingly, the Na(v)1.7 sequence in brain and islets is identical and yet the V-0.5 for inactivation is >30mV more negative in -cells. This may indicate the presence of an intracellular factor that modulates the voltage dependence of inactivation.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Damen, Bram, et al.
(författare)
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Consumption of breads containing in situ-produced arabinoxylan oligosaccharides alters gastrointestinal effects in healthy volunteers
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 1541-6100 .- 0022-3166. ; 142:3, s. 7-470
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS) are studied as food compounds with prebiotic potential. Here, the impact of consumption of breads with in situ-produced AXOS on intestinal fermentation and overall gastrointestinal characteristics was evaluated in a completely randomized, double-blind, controlled, cross-over study. Twenty-seven healthy volunteers consumed 180 g of wheat/rye bread with or without in situ-produced AXOS (WR(+) and WR(-), respectively) daily for 3 wk. Consumption of WR(+) corresponded to an AXOS intake of ~2.14 g/d. Refined wheat flour bread without AXOS (W(-)) (180 g/d) was provided during the 3-wk run-in and wash-out periods. At the end of each treatment period, participants collected urine for 48 h as well as a feces sample. Additionally, all participants completed a questionnaire about stool characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms during the last week of each period. Urinary phenol and p-cresol excretions were significantly lower after WR(+) intake compared to WR(-). Consumption of WR(+) significantly increased fecal total SCFA concentrations compared to intake of W(-). The effect of WR(+) intake was most pronounced on butyrate, with levels 70% higher than after consumption of W(-) in the run-in or wash-out period. Consumption of WR(+) tended to selectively increase the fecal levels of bifidobacteria (P = 0.06) relative to consumption of W(-). Stool frequency increased significantly after intake of WR(+) compared to WR(-). In conclusion, consumption of breads with in situ-produced AXOS may favorably modulate intestinal fermentation and overall gastrointestinal properties in healthy humans.
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| 24. |
- Dimmock, Andrew P., et al.
(författare)
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On the Regional Variability ofdB/dtand Its Significance to GIC
- 2020
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Ingår i: Space Weather. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 1542-7390. ; 18:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Faraday's law of induction is responsible for setting up a geoelectric field due to the variations in the geomagnetic field caused by ionospheric currents. This drives geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) which flow in large ground-based technological infrastructure such as high-voltage power lines. The geoelectric field is often a localized phenomenon exhibiting significant variations over spatial scales of only hundreds of kilometers. This is due to the complex spatiotemporal behavior of electrical currents flowing in the ionosphere and/or large gradients in the ground conductivity due to highly structured local geological properties. Over some regions, and during large storms, both of these effects become significant. In this study, we quantify the regional variability ofdB/dtusing closely placed IMAGE stations in northern Fennoscandia. The dependency between regional variability, solar wind conditions, and geomagnetic indices are also investigated. Finally, we assess the significance of spatial geomagnetic variations to modeling GICs across a transmission line. Key results from this study are as follows: (1) Regional geomagnetic disturbances are important in modeling GIC during strong storms; (2)dB/dtcan vary by several times up to a factor of three compared to the spatial average; (3)dB/dtand its regional variation is coupled to the energy deposited into the magnetosphere; and (4) regional variability can be more accurately captured and predicted from a local index as opposed to a global one. These results demonstrate the need for denser magnetometer networks at high latitudes where transmission lines extending hundreds of kilometers are present.
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| 25. |
- Müller, Dieter K., 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Arctic Tourism in Times of Change : Dimensions of Urban Tourism
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Tourism has grown in many Arctic peripheries of northern Europe and North America in recent years, particularly among international markets interested in northern winter experiences and unique Arctic nature and culture-based assets. This recent growth has been facilitated by a combination of factors tied to globalization, climate change, and an increasing “Arctification” of northern tourism that has generated particular imaginations and representations of the North among consumers as well as industry and political stakeholders. In this context urban places have remained relatively neglected in both academic and policy discourses connected to Arctic tourism, with much of the research and public attention focusing on remote destinations and exotic attractions that typically dominate the popular promotional tourism imagery of the Arctic. This neglect is somewhat surprising considering that most tourism activity – along with its positive and negative socioeconomic impacts – seems to concentrate in and around the larger urban centers.This report is the second one developed as part of the project Partnership for Sustainability: Arctic Tourism in Times of Change (funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers Arctic Co-operation Programme 2018–2020). The report brings together expertise and case studies from several Arctic and northern peripheries in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Canada to illustrate the diversity of urban Arctic tourism dimensions and to identify important implications for sustainable local and/or regional tourism development across the North.The case studies indicate that the dimensions of urban tourism in the Arctic are plentiful. As urban places in the Arctic are not primarily tourism resort towns, tourism happens in the context of other economic and societal activities. Hence, urban places in the Arctic serve a regional demand for urbanity and urban services within leisure and entertainment and they serve as destinations for domestic and international markets looking for more typical northern products such as winter experiences or northern lights. In this context, the Arctic dimensions of urban tourism in northern cities are not always self-evident and tourism has not always developed in relation to the northern culture of these places.Considering these insights, there is certainly not only one way forward for urban tourism in the Arctic. However, in a global competition for capital, companies, and people, urban places seem to be increasingly using tourism as a way to boost local economies and reimage their places in order to achieve individual, local, regional, and national development goals. In this context, the “Arctic” becomes a context to play with and an ingredient that on a global market is currently loaded with positive value.
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| 26. |
- Mårtensson, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Fermented, ropy, oat-based products reduce cholesterol levels and stimulate the bifidobacteria flora in humans
- 2005
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Ingår i: Nutrition Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0271-5317. ; 25:5, s. 429-442
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This investigation determined the effects of fermented oat-based products containing both native and microbial beta-glucans on plasma lipids and on fecal total bacterial count and Bifidobacterium ssp. The study was randomized, double blind with 3 parallel groups. Sixty-two free-living volunteers with moderately increased plasma cholesterol levels were recruited. In the final analysis, 56 subjects remained, as 6 subjects had left the study either due to lack of time (n = 2), unwillingness to continue the regimen (n = 2), or for other reasons (n = 2). During the first 3 weeks, all subjects received a fermented dairy-based product (control product, run-in period). On the following 5 weeks, I group continued with the control product, whereas the other 2 groups were given fermented oat-based products (intervention period, 3-3.5 g native beta-glucans per day). One of the oat products (ropy) was cofermented with an exopolysaccharide-producing strain, Pediococcus damnosus 2.6. A significant (P = .022) reduction in total cholesterol by 6% was observed in volunteers who had eaten the fermented, ropy, oat-based product compared with the control group. No other significant changes in plasma lipids were found. A significant increase in total bacterial count (P = .001) and Bifidobacterium ssp (P = .012) was observed in fecal samples from volunteers in the group who had eaten the fermented, ropy, oat-based product. This study shows that a fermented, ropy, oat-based product, containing both native and microbial glucans, can reduce the blood cholesterol level and also stimulate the bifidobacteria flora in the gastrointestinal tract. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 27. |
- Rosenqvist, L., et al.
(författare)
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3D Modeling of Geomagnetically Induced Currents in Sweden—Validation and Extreme Event Analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Space Weather. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1542-7390. ; 20:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rosenqvist and Hall (2019), https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018SW002084 developed a proof-of-concept modeling capability that incorporates a detailed 3D structure of Earth's electrical conductivity in a geomagnetically induced current estimation procedure (GIC-SMAP). The model was verified based on GIC measurements in northern Sweden. The study showed that southern Sweden is exposed to stronger electric fields due to a combined effect of low crustal conductivity and the influence of the surrounding coast. This study aims at further verifying the model in this region. GIC measurements on a power line at the west coast of southern Sweden are utilized. The location of the transmission line was selected to include coast effects at the ocean-land interface to investigate the importance of using 3D induction modeling methods. The model is used to quantify the hazard of severe GICs in this particular transmission line by using historic recordings of strong geomagnetic disturbances. To quantify a worst-case scenario GICs are calculated from modeled magnetic disturbances by the Space Weather Modeling Framework based on estimates for an idealized extreme interplanetary coronal mass ejection. The observed and estimated GIC based on the 3D GIC-SMAP procedure in the transmission line in southern Sweden are in good agreement. In contrast, 1D methods underestimate GICs by about 50%. The estimated GICs in the studied transmission line exceed 100 A for one of 14 historical geomagnetic storm intervals. The peak GIC during the sudden impulse phase of a “perfect” storm exceeds 300 A but depends on the locality of the station as the interplanetary magnetic cloud hits Earth.
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| 28. |
- Salojarvi, Jarkko, et al.
(författare)
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Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch
- 2017
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 49:6, s. 904-912
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a pioneer boreal tree that can be induced to flower within 1 year. Its rapid life cycle, small (440-Mb) genome, and advanced germplasm resources make birch an attractive model for forest biotechnology. We assembled and chromosomally anchored the nuclear genome of an inbred B. pendula individual. Gene duplicates from the paleohexaploid event were enriched for transcriptional regulation, whereas tandem duplicates were overrepresented by environmental responses. Population resequencing of 80 individuals showed effective population size crashes at major points of climatic upheaval. Selective sweeps were enriched among polyploid duplicates encoding key developmental and physiological triggering functions, suggesting that local adaptation has tuned the timing of and cross-talk between fundamental plant processes. Variation around the tightly-linked light response genes PHYC and FRS10 correlated with latitude and longitude and temperature, and with precipitation for PHYC. Similar associations characterized the growth-promoting cytokinin response regulator ARR1, and the wood development genes KAK and MED5A.
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| 29. |
- Welling, Daniel T., et al.
(författare)
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The Earth : Plasma Sources, Losses, and Transport Processes
- 2015
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Ingår i: Space Science Reviews. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0038-6308 .- 1572-9672. ; 192:1-4, s. 145-208
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reviews the state of knowledge concerning the source of magnetospheric plasma at Earth. Source of plasma, its acceleration and transport throughout the system, its consequences on system dynamics, and its loss are all discussed. Both observational and modeling advances since the last time this subject was covered in detail (Hultqvist et al., Magnetospheric Plasma Sources and Losses, 1999) are addressed.
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| 30. |
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