ABSTRACT
The Large-aperture Experiment to detect the Dark Age (LEDA) was designed to measure the 21-cm signal from neutral hydrogen at Cosmic Dawn, z ≈ 15–30. Using observations made with the ≈ 200 m ...diameter core of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO–LWA), we present a 2D cylindrical spatial power spectrum for data at 43.1–53.5 MHz (zmedian ≈ 28) incoherently integrated for 4 h, and an analysis of the array sensitivity. Power from foregrounds is localized to a ‘wedge’ within k⊥, $k_\parallel$ space. After calibration of visibilities using five bright compact sources including Vir A, we measure Δ2(k) ≈ 2 × 1012 mK2 outside the foreground wedge, where an uncontaminated cosmological signal would lie, in principle. The measured Δ2(k) is an upper limit that reflects a combination of thermal instrumental and sky noise, and unmodelled systematics that scatter power from the wedge, as will be discussed. By differencing calibrated visibilities for close pairs of frequency channels, we suppress foreground sky structure and systematics, extract thermal noise, and use a mix of coherent and incoherent integration to simulate a noise-dominated power spectrum for a 3000 h observation and z = 16−37. For suitable calibration quality, the resulting noise level, Δ2(k) ≈ 100 mK2 (k = 0.3 Mpc−1), would be sufficient to detect peaks in the 21-cm spatial power spectrum due to early Ly-α and X-ray sources, as predicted for a range of theoretical model parameters.
Orai (Orai1, Orai2, and Orai3) proteins form a family of highly Ca(2+)-selective plasma membrane channels that are regulated by stromal-interacting molecules (STIM1 and STIM2); STIM proteins are ...Ca(2+) sensors located in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. STIM and Orai proteins are expressed in vascular and airway smooth muscle and constitute the molecular components of the ubiquitous store-operated Ca(2+) entry pathway that mediate the Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) current. STIM/Orai proteins also encode store-independent Ca(2+) entry pathways in smooth muscle. Altered expression and function of STIM/Orai proteins have been linked to vascular and airway pathologies, including restenosis, hypertension, and atopic asthma. In this review we discuss our current understanding of Orai proteins and the store-dependent and -independent signaling pathways mediated by these proteins in vascular and airway smooth muscle. We also discuss the current studies linking altered expression and function of Orai proteins with smooth muscle-related pathologies.
When combining cosmological and oscillations results to constrain the neutrino sector, the question of the propagation of systematic uncertainties is often raised. We address this issue in the ...context of the derivation of an upper bound on the sum of the neutrino masses (Σmν) with recent cosmological data. This work is performed within the ΛCDM model extended to Σmν, for which we advocate the use of three mass-degenerate neutrinos. We focus on the study of systematic uncertainties linked to the foregrounds modelling in cosmological microwave background (CMB) data analysis, and on the impact of the present knowledge of the reionisation optical depth. This is done through the use of different likelihoods built from Planck data. Limits on Σmν are derived with various combinations of data, including the latest baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) results. We also discuss the impact of the preference for current CMB data for amplitudes of the gravitational lensing distortions higher than expected within the ΛCDM model, and add the Planck CMB lensing. We then derive a robust upper limit: Σmν< 0.17 eV at 95% CL, including 0.01eV of foreground systematics. We also discuss the neutrino mass repartition and show that today’s data do not allow one to disentangle normal from inverted hierarchy. The impact on the other cosmological parameters is also reported, for different assumptions on the neutrino mass repartition, and different high and low multipole CMB likelihoods.
ABSTRACT
Cosmic dawn, the onset of star formation in the early universe, can in principle be studied via the 21-cm transition of neutral hydrogen, for which a sky-averaged absorption signal, ...redshifted to MHz frequencies, is predicted to be O(10–100) mK. Detection requires separation of the 21-cm signal from bright chromatic foreground emission due to Galactic structure, and the characterization of how it couples to instrumental response. In this work, we present characterization of antenna gain patterns for the Large-aperture Experiment to detect the Dark Ages (LEDA) via simulations, assessing the effects of the antenna ground-plane geometries used, and measured soil properties. We then investigate the impact of beam pattern uncertainties on the reconstruction of a Gaussian absorption feature. Assuming the pattern is known and correcting for the chromaticity of the instrument, the foregrounds can be modelled with a log-polynomial, and the 21-cm signal identified with high accuracy. However, uncertainties on the soil properties lead to percentage changes in the chromaticity that can bias the signal recovery. The bias can be up to a factor of two in amplitude and up to few per cent in the frequency location. These effects do not appear to be mitigated by larger ground planes, conversely gain patterns with larger ground planes exhibit more complex frequency structure, significantly compromising the parameter reconstruction. Our results, consistent with findings from other antenna design studies, emphasize the importance of chromatic response and suggest caution in assuming log-polynomial foreground models in global signal experiments.
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•Tertiary treatment of landfill leachate was studied by DT-RO in full-scale field.•Water recovery was higher than 91% by combining two RO stages.•Boron concentration lower than 2 mg/L ...met the standard for water reuse.•Ions and metals rejections were assessed in each single RO stage.•Combined evaluation of Δπ and ΔP can support the decision of optimal operation.
Recovery of high quality water from municipal landfill leachate was studied by three-stage disc tube reverse osmosis optimized in pilot-scale. Following UF-membrane-assisted activated sludge plant, overall 46.5 tons of leachate were post-treated in real environment and analyzed for conventional contaminants and hazardous compounds (e.g. heavy metals, boron, selenium) throughout operation of membrane system.
Operating pressure ranged from 21 to 76 bar, while permeate flux varied in the range 7.1–32.5 L m−2 h−1. Rejection factors of specific ions were related to the pressure and global removals were assessed for each stage (e.g. E%COD = 92.4–99.2%, E%NH4 = 46.2–95.8%, E%NOx = 84.8–97.9%; E%TDS = 88–95.5%). Boron removal was assessed in the range 34–48%, so as to require the third stage to reach standard for discharge or reuse. Two stages were sufficient to reach water recovery higher than 91%. Long-term operation and mathematical modeling demonstrated how the Δπ/ΔP ratio can support the decisions for membrane cleaning and predictive maintenance: permeability decline was associated to the ratio increase from 0.72 to 0.73 to 1.13–1.21.
ABSTRACT
Total-power radiometry with individual meter-wave antennas is a potentially effective way to study the Cosmic Dawn (z ∼ 20) through measurement of the sky brightness arising from the 21 cm ...transition of neutral hydrogen, provided this can be disentangled from much stronger Galactic and extra-galactic foregrounds. In the process, measured spectra of integrated sky brightness temperature can be used to quantify the foreground emission properties. In this work, we analyse a subset of data from the Large-aperture Experiment to Detect the Dark Age (LEDA) in the 50–87 MHz range and constrain the foreground spectral index β in the northern sky visible from mid-latitudes. We focus on two zenith-directed LEDA radiometers and study how estimates of β vary with local sidereal time (LST). We correct for the effect of gain pattern chromaticity and compare estimated absolute temperatures with simulations. We select a reference data set consisting of 14 d of observations in optimal conditions. Using this data set, we find, for one radiometer, that β varies from −2.55 at LST <6 h to a steeper −2.58 at LST ∼13 h, consistently with sky models and previous southern sky measurements. In the 13 − 24 h LST range, however, we find that β varies between −2.55 and −2.61 (data scatter ∼0.01). We observe a similar β versus LST trend for the second radiometer, although with slightly smaller |β| over the 24 h, in the −2.46 < β < −2.43 range (data scatter ∼ 0.02). Combining all data gathered during the extended campaign between mid-2018 and mid-2019, and focusing on the LST = 9−12.5 h range, we infer good instrument stability and find −2.56 < β < −2.50 with 0.09 < Δβ < 0.12.
ABSTRACT
Deep learning (DL) has recently been proposed as a novel approach for 21cm foreground removal. Before applying DL to real observations, it is essential to assess its consistency with ...established methods, its performance across various simulation models, and its robustness against instrumental systematics. This study develops a commonly used U-Net and evaluates its performance for post-reionization foreground removal across three distinct sky simulation models based on pure Gaussian realizations, the Lagrangian perturbation theory, and the Planck sky model. Consistent outcomes across the models are achieved provided that training and testing data align with the same model. On average, the residual foreground in the U-Net reconstructed data is $\sim 10~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the signal across angular scales at the considered redshift range. Comparable results are found with traditional approaches. However, blindly using a network trained on one model for data from another model yields inaccurate reconstructions, emphasizing the need for consistent training data. The study then introduces frequency-dependent Gaussian beams and bandpass fluctuations to the test data. The network struggles to denoise data affected by ‘unexpected’ systematics without prior information. However, after re-training consistently with systematics-contaminated data, the network effectively restores its reconstruction accuracy. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating prior knowledge during network training compared with established blind methods. Our work provides critical guidelines for using DL for 21cm foreground removal, tailored to specific data attributes. Notably, it is the first time that DL has been applied to the Planck sky model being most realistic foregrounds at present.
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