| 1. |
- Barausse, Enrico, et al.
(författare)
-
Prospects for fundamental physics with LISA
- 2020
-
Ingår i: General Relativity and Gravitation. - : SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS. - 0001-7701 .- 1572-9532. ; 52:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this paper, which is of programmatic rather than quantitative nature, we aim to further delineate and sharpen the future potential of the LISA mission in the area of fundamental physics. Given the very broad range of topics that might be relevant to LISA,we present here a sample of what we view as particularly promising fundamental physics directions. We organize these directions through a "science-first" approach that allows us to classify how LISA data can inform theoretical physics in a variety of areas. For each of these theoretical physics classes, we identify the sources that are currently expected to provide the principal contribution to our knowledge, and the areas that need further development. The classification presented here should not be thought of as cast in stone, but rather as a fluid framework that is amenable to change with the flow of new insights in theoretical physics.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bowler, D. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Mapping human pressures on biodiversity across the planet uncovers anthropogenic threat complexes
- 2020
-
Ingår i: People and Nature. - : Wiley. - 2575-8314. ; 2:2, s. 380-394
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Climate change and other anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity change are unequally distributed across the world. Overlap in the distributions of different drivers have important implications for biodiversity change attribution and the potential for interactive effects. However, the spatial relationships among different drivers and whether they differ between the terrestrial and marine realm has yet to be examined. We compiled global gridded datasets on climate change, land-use, resource exploitation, pollution, alien species potential and human population density. We used multivariate statistics to examine the spatial relationships among the drivers and to characterize the typical combinations of drivers experienced by different regions of the world. We found stronger positive correlations among drivers in the terrestrial than in the marine realm, leading to areas with high intensities of multiple drivers on land. Climate change tended to be negatively correlated with other drivers in the terrestrial realm (e.g. in the tundra and boreal forest with high climate change but low human use and pollution), whereas the opposite was true in the marine realm (e.g. in the Indo-Pacific with high climate change and high fishing). We show that different regions of the world can be defined by Anthropogenic Threat Complexes (ATCs), distinguished by different sets of drivers with varying intensities. We identify 11 ATCs that can be used to test hypotheses about patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem change, especially about the joint effects of multiple drivers. Our global analysis highlights the broad conservation priorities needed to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic change, with different priorities emerging on land and in the ocean, and in different parts of the world. Abstrakt Der Klimawandel und andere anthropogene Faktoren, die die biologische Vielfalt verandern, betreffen nicht alle Teile der Erde in gleicher Weise. Wahrend unsere Kenntnisse zu jedem einzelnen Gefahrdungsfaktor standig wachsen, ist unser Verstandnis zu den raumlichen Beziehungen zwischen den verschiedenen Faktoren und ihr Zusammenwirken noch sehr mangelhaft. Das betrifft z.B. auch die Unterschiede zwischen terrestrischen und marinen Lebensraumen, die sehr unterschiedlichen Bedrohungen ausgesetzt sein konnen, selbst wenn sie eng benachbart sind. In der vorliegenden Studie haben wir globale Datensatze uber Klimawandel, Landnutzung, Ressourcenausbeutung, Umweltverschmutzung, biologische Invasionen und Bevolkerungsdichte zusammengestellt. Mit Hilfe multivariater Statistiken haben wir die raumlichen Beziehungen zwischen diesen Ursachen des globalen Biodiversitatswandels und deren Kombinationen untersucht, um deren Einfluss auf verschiedene Regionen der Welt zu charakterisieren. Insbesondere in den terrestrischen Regionen wirken die genannten Gefahrdungsfaktoren haufig in der gleichen Richtung, vor allem solche, die zum Teil besonders hohe Belastungen darstellen. Regionen mit starker ausgepragtem Klimawandel sind tendenziell solche Gebiete, in denen die Gefahrdung durch andere Faktoren eher geringer ist, wie z.B. in der Tundra und im borealen Nadelwald, die stark vom Klimawandel, aber weniger von hoher Nutzungsintensitat und Verschmutzung betroffen sind. Dagegen treten in den Meeresregionen gegenteilige Muster auf, wo z.B. im Indopazifik ein sehr ausgepragter Klimawandel einer hoher Ressourcenausbeutung durch Fischerei zusammenfallt. Die Regionen der Welt lassen sich in Klassen unterschiedlicher Interaktionen und Intensitaten dieser anthropogenen Gefahrungsfaktoren unterteilen. Diese insgesamt 11 verschiedene Faktorenklassen konnen nun dazu verwendet werden, Auswirkungen auf Biodiversitat zu untersuchen und die Gefahrdungs-Hotspots zu identifizieren. Diese Hotspots sind diejenigen gro ss raumigen Meeres- und Festlandsregionen, in denen prioritar Naturschutzma ss nahmen angewendet werden mussen, um den Auswirkungen des anthropogenen Biodiversitatswandels entgegenzutreten. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
|
|
| 3. |
- Marconi, A., et al.
(författare)
-
ANDES, the high resolution spectrograph for the ELT : science case, baseline design and path to construction
- 2022
-
Ingår i: GROUND-BASED AND AIRBORNE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY IX. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9781510653504 - 9781510653498
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The first generation of ELT instruments includes an optical-infrared high resolution spectrograph, indicated as ELT-HIRES and recently christened ANDES (ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph). ANDES consists of three fibre-fed spectrographs (UBV, RIZ, YJH) providing a spectral resolution of similar to 100,000 with a minimum simultaneous wavelength coverage of 0.4-1.8 mu m with the goal of extending it to 0.35-2.4 mu m with the addition of a K band spectrograph. It operates both in seeing- and diffraction-limited conditions and the fibre-feeding allows several, interchangeable observing modes including a single conjugated adaptive optics module and a small diffraction-limited integral field unit in the NIR. Its modularity will ensure that ANDES can be placed entirely on the ELT Nasmyth platform, if enough mass and volume is available, or partly in the Coude room. ANDES has a wide range of groundbreaking science cases spanning nearly all areas of research in astrophysics and even fundamental physics. Among the top science cases there are the detection of biosignatures from exoplanet atmospheres, finding the fingerprints of the first generation of stars, tests on the stability of Nature's fundamental couplings, and the direct detection of the cosmic acceleration. The ANDES project is carried forward by a large international consortium, composed of 35 Institutes from 13 countries, forming a team of more than 200 scientists and engineers which represent the majority of the scientific and technical expertise in the field among ESO member states.
|
|
| 4. |
- Cabral dos Santos, Alex, 1990, et al.
(författare)
-
Water masses seasonality and meteorological patterns drive the biogeochemical processes of a subtropical and urbanized watershed-bay-shelf continuum
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697. ; 749
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2020 Elsevier B.V. Understanding the different scales of temporal variability is crucial to improve the knowledge of the biogeochemical processes in the land-ocean interface. In this study, we evaluated the role of continental runoff and intrusion of oceanic water masses in the trophic state of the Bay of Santa Catarina Island (BSCI) over the last three decades (1993–2019) by using multiple biogeochemical and eutrophication assessment tools. The sub-watersheds of BSCI showed high concentrations of nutrients, fecal coliform and chlorophyll-a, directly correlated to the number of inhabitants. Worst-case scenarios were found in summer and fall seasons due to sewage inputs caused by mass tourism and the inefficiency or even absence of treatment systems, boosted by strong rainfall. The intrusion of the South Atlantic Central Water and the Plata Plume Water into the BSCI favored autotrophy in the summer and heterotrophy in the winter, coupled with low and high residence time, respectively. El Niño events enhanced rainfall and continental runoff, exporting elevated nutrients and phytoplankton biomass loads from the eutrophic rivers to the continental shelf. The pattern reverses during La Niña, when chlorophyll and nutrient peaks were detected inside the bay. Eutrophication evaluation indicated that the trophic state oscillated from moderate to high and that these conditions tend to remain the same in future scenarios due to the moderate residence time of the water, anthropogenic pressures, periodic algal blooms and the intrusion of nutrient-rich oceanic water masses. Management actions, such as the improvement of the wastewater treatment system and wetlands restoration, are needed in order to mitigate eutrophication and the loss of ecosystem services and functions.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Marconi, Alessandro, et al.
(författare)
-
ELT-HIRES, the high resolution spectrograph for the ELT : Phase A study and path to construction
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9781510636828 - 9781510636811
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- HIRES is the high-resolution spectrograph of the European Extremely Large Telescope at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. It consists of three fibre-fed spectrographs providing a wavelength coverage of 0.4-1.8 µm (goal 0.35-2.4 µm) at a spectral resolution of 100,000. The fibre-feeding allows HIRES to have several, interchangeable observing modes including a SCAO module and a small diffraction-limited IFU in the NIR. Therefore, it will be able to operate both in seeing- and diffraction-limited modes. Its modularity will ensure that HIRES can be placed entirely on the Nasmyth platform, if enough mass and volume is available, or part on the Nasmyth and part in the Coud`e room. ELT-HIRES has a wide range of science cases spanning nearly all areas of research in astrophysics and even fundamental physics. Among the top science cases there are the detection of biosignatures from exoplanet atmospheres, finding the fingerprints of the first generation of stars (PopIII), tests on the stability of Nature’s fundamental couplings, and the direct detection of the cosmic acceleration. The HIRES consortium is composed of more than 30 institutes from 14 countries, forming a team of more than 200 scientists and engineers.
|
|
| 8. |
- Cabral, H., et al.
(författare)
-
Functional traits and phylogeny explain snake distribution in the world's largest dry forest ecoregion, the Gran Chaco
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 12:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Macroecological studies describe large-scale diversity patterns through analyses of species distribution patterns and allows us to elucidate how species differing in ecology, physical requirements, and life histories are distributed in a multidimensional space. These patterns of distributions can be explained by vegetation, and climatic factors, and are determined by historical and current factors. The continuous accumulation of information on the distribution patterns of species is essential to understand the history and evolution of the biota. In this study, we aimed to identify functional and evolutionary drivers that explain the geographic patterns of vertical stratification. We compiled morphological, ecological, and distribution data of 140 species of Chacoan snakes and constructed null models to map their geographic pattern. We used a range of environmental variables to assess which drivers are influencing these biogeographic patterns. Lastly, we used evolutionary data to build the first map of the phylogenetic regions of Chacoan snakes. We found a latitudinal pattern, with a marked verticality in the snake assemblies in the Chaco. Verticality and long-tailed species richness increased in areas with high stratified habitats and stable temperature. Fossoriality is driven mainly by soil conditions, especially soils with fewer sand particles and less stratified habitat. Phylogenetic regions in the Chaco showed a marked latitudinal pattern, like that observed in the geographic pattern of verticality. The distribution pattern of Chacoan snakes also reflects their evolutionary history, with a marked phylogenetic regionalization.
|
|
| 9. |
- Della-Morte, D, et al.
(författare)
-
Association of Carotid Plaque Morphology and Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in the Northern Manhattan Study
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2297-055X. ; 9, s. 793755-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low Gray-Scale Median (GSM) index is an ultrasonographic parameter of soft, lipid rich plaque morphology that has been associated with stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We sought to explore the contribution of the modifiable and not-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) to vulnerable plaque morphology measured by the low GSM index. A total of 1,030 stroke-free community dwelling individuals with carotid plaques present (mean age, 71.8 ± 9.1; 58% women; 56% Hispanic, 20% Non-Hispanic Black, 22% Non-Hispanic White) were assessed for minimum GSM (min GSM) using high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between RFs and minGSM after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Within an individual, median plaque number was 2 (IQR: 1–3) and mean plaque number 2.3 (SD: 1.4). Mean minGSM was 78.4 ± 28.7 (IQR: 56–96), 76.3 ± 28.8 in men and 80 ± 28.5 in women; 78.7 ± 29.3 in Hispanics participants, 78.5 ± 27.2 in Non-Hispanic Black participants, and 78.2 ± 29 in Non-Hispanic white participants. In multivariable adjusted model, male sex (β = −5.78, p = 0.007), obesity BMI (β = −6.92, p = 0.01), and greater levels of fasting glucose (β = −8.02, p = 0.02) and LDL dyslipidemia (β = −6.64, p = 0.005) were positively associated with lower minGSM, while presence of glucose lowering medication resulted in a significant inverse association (β = 7.68, p = 0.04). Interaction (with p for interaction <0.1) and stratification analyses showed that effect of age on minGSM was stronger in men (β = −0.44, p = 0.03) than in women (β = −0.20, p = 0.18), and in individuals not taking glucose lowering medication (β = −0.33, p = 0.009). Our study has demonstrated an important contribution of glycemic and lipid metabolism to vulnerable, low density or echolucent plaque morphology, especially among men and suggested that use of glucose lowering medication was associated with more fibrose-stable plaque phenotype (greater GSM). Further research is needed to evaluate effects of medical therapies in individuals with vulnerable, low density, non-stenotic carotid plaques and how these effects translate to prevention of cerebrovascular disease.
|
|
| 10. |
- Di Marcantonio, P., et al.
(författare)
-
ANDES, the high resolution spectrograph for the ELT : project management and system engineering approaches for mastering its preliminary design phase
- 2022
-
Ingår i: MODELING, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR ASTRONOMY X. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9781510653566 - 9781510653559
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- At the end of 2021, the ESO council approved the start of the construction phase for a High Resolution Spectrograph for the ELT, formerly known as ELT-HIRES, renamed recently as ANDES (ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph). The current initial schedule foresees a 9-years development aimed to bring the instrument on-sky soon after the first-generation ELT instruments. ANDES combines high spectral resolution (up to 100,000), wide spectral range (0.4 mu m to 1.8 mu m with a goal from 0.35 mu m to 2.4 mu m) and extreme stability in wavelength calibration accuracy (better than 0.02 m/s rms over a 10-year period in a selected wavelength range) with massive optical collecting power of the ELT thus enabling to achieve possible breakthrough groundbreaking scientific discoveries. The main science cases cover a possible detection of life signatures in exoplanets, the study of the stability of Nature's physical constants along the universe lifetime and a first direct measurement of the cosmic acceleration. The reference design of this instrument in its extended version (with goals included) foresees 4 spectrographic modules fed by fibers, operating in seeing and diffraction limited (adaptive optics assisted) mode carried out by an international consortium composed by 24 institutes from 13 countries which poses big challenges in several areas. In this paper we will describe the approach we intend to pursue to master management and system engineering aspects of this challenging instrument focused mainly on the preliminary design phase, but looking also ahead towards its final construction.
|
|
