We present a measurement of the Hubble constant \(H_0\) using the gravitational wave (GW) event GW190814, which resulted from the coalescence of a 23 \(M_\odot\) black hole with a 2.6 \(M_\odot\) ...compact object, as a standard siren. No compelling electromagnetic counterpart has been identified for this event, thus our analysis accounts for thousands of potential host galaxies within a statistical framework. The redshift information is obtained from the photometric redshift (photo-\(z\)) catalog from the Dark Energy Survey. The luminosity distance is provided by the LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave sky map. Since this GW event has the second-smallest localization volume after GW170817, GW190814 is likely to provide the best constraint on cosmology from a single standard siren without identifying an electromagnetic counterpart. Our analysis uses photo-\(z\) probability distribution functions and corrects for photo-\(z\) biases. We also reanalyze the binary-black hole GW170814 within this updated framework. We explore how our findings impact the \(H_0\) constraints from GW170817, the only GW merger associated with a unique host galaxy. From a combination of GW190814, GW170814 and GW170817, our analysis yields \(H_0 = 72.0^{+ 12}_{- 8.2 }~{\rm km~s^{-1}~Mpc^{-1}}\) (68\% Highest Density Interval, HDI) for a prior in \(H_0\) uniform between \(20,140~{\rm km~s^{-1}~Mpc^{-1}}\). The addition of GW190814 and GW170814 to GW170817 improves the 68\% HDI from GW170817 alone by \(\sim 18\%\), showing how well-localized mergers without counterparts can provide a significant contribution to standard siren measurements, provided that a complete galaxy catalog is available at the location of the event.
We studied the alterations produced in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after applying a protocol of cryopreservation at subzero temperatures. Isolated rabbit hearts were used for the ...study with 5% polyethylene glycol (PM 4000) being the cryoprotective agent.
The cryoprotectant solution CP-16 was used on the explanted heart in three phases: induction, storage and thawing. After 60 minutes at -1.6 C and thawing at 2.7 C/min, the heart was connected to a Langendorff system and perfused anterogradely with Krebs-Henseleit buffer. We analyzed the systolic and diastolic parameters before and after cryopreservation, thereby establishing a comparative statistical study.
Following cryopreservation we found a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the peak and developed pressure of the left ventricle with an upward, left displacement of the ventricular function curve. This is indicative of improvement in systolic function. However, the diastolic function showed worsening, with a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in mean stiffness, decrease in differential stiffness (p < 0.05) and upward, left displacement of the diastolic pressure-volume curve.
On the basis of our results we concluded that: a) PM 4000 polyethylene glycol maintains the heart biological viability during cryopreservation at subzero temperatures, and b) after an cryopreservation left ventricular diastolic function worsens with an increase in systolic function.
During heart surgery, myocardial dysfunction may occasionally appear when extracorporeal circulation is discontinued, causing serious haemodynamic disorders. Many mechanisms are involved in this ...hypoxia-reoxygenation syndrome. The aim of this experimental study was to characterize the vasomotor disorders that take place in the isolated porcine coronary artery during in vitro hypoxia-reoxygenation and to analyse the effect of nifedipine on them. Rings of porcine coronary artery were placed in an organ chamber connected to a system that recorded isometric forces. The vascular rings were divided into two groups: control group (no nifedipine) and study group (nifedipine, 10(-6) mol/l). The vascular rings were precontracted with 30 mmol/l KCl and then hypoxia-reoxygenation was induced. Control arterial rings showed important changes in coronary vasomotor tone: severe hypoxic contraction (from 14.48+/-1.16 g of stable contraction to 17.6+/-0.44 g after the imposition of hypoxia), and transient vasodilation during reoxygenation (69.9+/-10.1% of the maximum contraction achieved). The nifedipine group experienced a slow, progressive, vasodilation throughout the whole experiment (73+/-3.5% of the maximum contraction). Neither hypoxic vasospasm nor fluctuations of the coronary vascular tone occurred. Thus, at the end of the hypoxia, the control vessels presented a degree of contraction similar to the initial level. However, in the rings treated with nifedipine, the percentage of dilation was 73+/-3.5% (P<0.05). In the isolated porcine coronary artery with intact endothelium undergoing a situation of hypoxia-reoxygenation, we have detected transient vasoconstriction during the first period of hypoxia, followed by vasodilation during reoxygenation. The intracoronary administration of nifedipine prior to the imposition of hypoxia prevents hypoxic contraction, achieving a greater and more stable degree of coronary vasorelaxation during the complete process of hypoxia-reoxygenation.
We perform the first blind analysis of cluster abundance data. Specifically, we derive cosmological constraints from the abundance and weak-lensing signal of \redmapper\ clusters of richness ...\(\lambda\geq 20\) in the redshift range \(z\in0.1,0.3\) as measured in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We simultaneously fit for cosmological parameters and the richness--mass relation of the clusters. For a flat \(\Lambda\)CDM cosmological model with massive neutrinos, we find \(S_8 \equiv \sigma_{8}(\Omega_m/0.3)^{0.5}=0.79^{+0.05}_{-0.04}\). This value is both consistent and competitive with that derived from cluster catalogues selected in different wavelengths. Our result is also consistent with the combined probes analyses by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS), and with the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies as measured by \planck. We demonstrate that the cosmological posteriors are robust against variation of the richness--mass relation model and to systematics associated with the calibration of the selection function. In combination with Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) data and Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) data, we constrain the Hubble rate to be \(h=0.66\pm 0.02\), independent of the CMB. Future work aimed at improving our understanding of the scatter of the richness--mass relation has the potential to significantly improve the precision of our cosmological posteriors. The methods described in this work were developed for use in the forthcoming analysis of cluster abundances in the DES. Our SDSS analysis constitutes the first part of a staged-unblinding analysis of the full DES data set.
Ross syndrome involves three clinical signs: tonic pupil, hyporeflexia and segmental hypohidrosis. Sometimes the clinical picture also includes autonomic dysfunction. To our knowledge only 24 cases ...have been described in the literature, indicating that the syndrome is rare. We present a new case in which contralateral hemicorporal hyperhidrosis was, as usual, the key complementary feature leading to diagnosis.
We evaluate the exposure during nadir observations with JEM-EUSO, the Extreme Universe Space Observatory, on-board the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station. Designed as a ...mission to explore the extreme energy Universe from space, JEM-EUSO will monitor the Earth's nighttime atmosphere to record the ultraviolet light from tracks generated by extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. In the present work, we discuss the particularities of space-based observation and we compute the annual exposure in nadir observation. The results are based on studies of the expected trigger aperture and observational duty cycle, as well as, on the investigations of the effects of clouds and different types of background light. We show that the annual exposure is about one order of magnitude higher than those of the presently operating ground-based observatories.
