Abstract
We report on a chemo-dynamical analysis of SPLUS J142445.34−254247.1 (SPLUS J1424−2542), an extremely metal-poor halo star enhanced in elements formed by the rapid neutron-capture process (
...r
-process). This star was first selected as a metal-poor candidate from its narrowband S-PLUS photometry and followed up spectroscopically in medium resolution with Gemini-South/GMOS, which confirmed its low-metallicity status. High-resolution spectroscopy was gathered with GHOST at Gemini-South, allowing for the determination of the chemical abundances for 36 elements, from carbon to thorium. At Fe/H = −3.39, SPLUS J1424−2542 is one of the lowest-metallicity stars with measured Th and has the highest
log
ϵ
(
Th
/
Eu
)
observed to date, making it part of the “actinide-boost” category of
r
-process–enhanced stars. The analysis presented here suggests that the gas cloud from which SPLUS J1424−2542 formed must have been enriched by at least two progenitor populations. The light-element (
Z
≤ 30) abundance pattern is consistent with the yields from a supernova explosion of metal-free stars with 11.3–13.4
M
⊙
, and the heavy-element (
Z
≥ 38) abundance pattern can be reproduced by the yields from a neutron star merger (1.66
M
⊙
and 1.27
M
⊙
) event. A kinematical analysis also reveals that SPLUS J1424−2542 is a low-mass, old halo star with a likely in situ origin, not associated with any known early merger events in the Milky Way.
OBJECTIVE:Neurofibromatosis (NF)-related benign tumors such as plexiform neurofibromas (PN) and vestibular schwannomas (VS) can cause substantial morbidity. Clinical trials directed at these tumors ...have become available. Due to differences in disease manifestations and the natural history of NF-related tumors, response criteria used for solid cancers (1-dimensional/RECIST Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and bidimensional/World Health Organization) have limited applicability. No standardized response criteria for benign NF tumors exist. The goal of the Tumor Measurement Working Group of the REiNS (Response Evaluation in Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis) committee is to propose consensus guidelines for the evaluation of imaging response in clinical trials for NF tumors.
METHODS:Currently used imaging endpoints, designs of NF clinical trials, and knowledge of the natural history of NF-related tumors, in particular PN and VS, were reviewed. Consensus recommendations for response evaluation for future studies were developed based on this review and the expertise of group members.
RESULTS:MRI with volumetric analysis is recommended to sensitively and reproducibly evaluate changes in tumor size in clinical trials. Volumetric analysis requires adherence to specific imaging recommendations. A 20% volume change was chosen to indicate a decrease or increase in tumor size. Use of these criteria in future trials will enable meaningful comparison of results across studies.
CONCLUSIONS:The proposed imaging response evaluation guidelines, along with validated clinical outcome measures, will maximize the ability to identify potentially active agents for patients with NF and benign tumors.
We demonstrate a new approach to classical fiber-fed spectroscopy. Our method is to use a photonic lantern that converts an arbitrary (e.g. incoherent) input beam into N diffraction-limited outputs. ...For the highest throughput, the number of outputs must be matched to the total number of unpolarized spatial modes on input. This approach has many advantages: (i) after the lantern, the instrument is constructed from 'commercial off the shelf' components; (ii) the instrument is the minimum size and mass configuration at a fixed resolving power and spectral order; (iii) the throughput is better than 60% (slit to detector, including detector QE of ~80%); (iv) the scattered light at the detector can be less than 0.1% (total power). Our first implementation operates over 1545-1555 nm (limited by the detector) with a spectral resolution of 0.055 nm (R~30,000) using a 1 × 7 (1 multi-mode input to 7 single-mode outputs) photonic lantern. This approach is a first step towards a fully integrated, multimode photonic microspectrograph.
ABSTRACT
Pristine_183.6849 + 04.8619 (P1836849) is an extremely metal-poor (Fe/H = −3.3 ± 0.1) star on a prograde orbit confined to the Galactic disc. Such stars are rare and may have their origins ...in protogalactic fragments that formed the early Milky Way, in low-mass satellites accreted later, or forming in situ in the Galactic plane. Here, we present a chemo-dynamical analysis of the spectral features between 3700−11 000 Å from a high-resolution spectrum taken during Science Verification of the new Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph. Spectral features for many chemical elements are analysed (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni), and valuable upper limits are determined for others (C, Na, Sr, Ba). This main sequence star exhibits several rare chemical signatures, including (i) extremely low metallicity for a star in the Galactic disc, (ii) very low abundances of the light α-elements (Na, Mg, Si) compared to other metal-poor stars, and (iii) unusually large abundances of Cr and Mn, where Cr, Mn/FeNLTE > +0.5. A comparison to theoretical yields from supernova models suggests that two low-mass Population III objects (one 10 M⊙ supernova and one 17 M⊙ hypernova) can reproduce the abundance pattern well (reduced χ2 < 1). When this star is compared to other extremely metal-poor stars on quasi-circular, prograde planar orbits, differences in both chemistry and kinematics imply there is little evidence for a common origin. The unique chemistry of P1836849 is discussed in terms of the earliest stages in the formation of the Milky Way.
ABSTRACT The Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph (GHOST) is a new Echelle spectrograph available on the Gemini-South telescope as of Semester 2024A. We present the first high-resolution ...spectrum of the quasar J1449−1227 (redshift zem = 3.27) using data taken during the commissioning of GHOST. The observed quasar hosts an intervening iron-poor {Fe/H = −2.5} damped Lyman α system (DLA) at redshift z = 2.904. Taking advantage of the high spectral resolving power of GHOST (R ≈ 55 000), we are able to accurately model the metal absorption lines of the metal-poor DLA and find a supersolar Si/Fe, suggesting that the DLA gas is in an early stage of chemical enrichment. Using simple ionization models, we find that the large range in the C iv/Si iv column density ratio of individual components within the DLA’s high-ionization absorption profile can be reproduced by several metal-poor Lyman limit systems surrounding the low-ionization gas of the DLA. It is possible that this metal-poor DLA resides within a complex system of metal-poor galaxies or filaments with inflowing gas. The high spectral resolution, wavelength coverage, and sensitivity of GHOST make it an ideal spectrograph for characterizing the chemistry and kinematics of quasar absorption lines.
The development of blue materials with good efficiency, even at high brightness, with excellent color purity, simple processing, and high thermal stability assuring adequate device lifetime is an ...important remaining challenge for organic light‐emitting didoes (OLEDs) in displays and lightning applications. Furthermore, these various features are typically mutually exclusive in practice. Herein, four novel green and blue light‐emitting materials based on a monothiatruxene core are reported together with their photophysical and thermal properties, and performance in solution‐processed OLEDs. The materials show excellent thermal properties with high glass transition temperatures ranging from 171 to 336 °C and decomposition temperatures from 352 to 442 °C. High external quantum efficiencies of 3.7% for a deep‐blue emitter with CIE color co‐ordinates (0.16, 0.09) and 7% for green emitter with color co‐ordinates (0.22, 0.40) are achieved at 100 cd m−2. The efficiencies observed are exceptionally high for fluorescent materials with photoluminescence quantum yields of 24% and 62%, respectively. The performance at higher brightness is very good with only 38% and 17% efficiency roll‐offs at 1000 cd m−2. The results indicate that utilization of this unique molecular design is promising for efficient deep‐blue highly stable and soluble light‐emitting materials.
A new type of high‐performance, good solubility, and thermally stable emitters based on a novel unsymmetrical heterotruxene core, functionalized with carbazole and diphenylamine, is introduced. The electroluminescence efficiencies of solution‐processed devices reach 3.7% for a deep‐blue emitter and 7.0% for a green emitter with CIE color coordinates (0.16, 0.09) and (0.22, 0.40), respectively at 100 cd m−2.
Abstract The Gemini High Resolution Optical Spectrograph (GHOST) is a fiber-fed spectrograph system on the Gemini South telescope that provides simultaneous wavelength coverage from 348 to 1061 nm, ...and is designed for optimal performance between 363 and 950 nm. It can observe up to two objects simultaneously in a 7.′5 diameter field of regard at R ≃ 56,000 or a single object at R ≃ 75,000. The spectral resolution modes are obtained by using integral field units to image slice a 1.″2 aperture by a factor of five in width using 19 fibers in the high resolution mode and by a factor of three in width using 7 fibers in the standard resolution mode. GHOST is equipped with hardware to allow for precision radial velocity measurements, expected to approach meters per second precision. Here, we describe the basic design and operational capabilities of GHOST, and proceed to derive and quantify the key aspects of its on-sky performance that are of most relevance to its science users.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and important due to poor outcomes. An ability to stratify CKD care based on outcome risk should improve care for all. Our objective was to develop and validate ...5-year outcome prediction tools in a large population-based CKD cohort. Model performance was compared with the recently reported 'kidney failure risk equation' (KFRE) models.
Those with CKD in the Grampian Laboratory Outcomes Mortality and Morbidity Study-I (3396) and -II (18 687) cohorts were used to develop and validate a renal replacement therapy (RRT) prediction tool. The discrimination, calibration and overall performance were assessed. The net reclassification index compared performance of the developed model and the 3- and 4-variable KFRE model to predict RRT in the validation cohort.
The developed model (with measures of age, sex, excretory renal function and proteinuria) performed well with a C-statistic of 0.938 (0.918-0.957) and Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) χ(2) statistic 4.6. In the validation cohort (18 687), the developed model falsely identified fewer as high risk (414 versus 3278 individuals) compared with the KFRE 3-variable model (measures of age, sex and excretory renal function), but had more false negatives (58 versus 21 individuals). The KFRE 4-variable model could only be applied to 2274 individuals because of a lack of baseline urinary albumin creatinine ratio data, thus limiting its use in routine clinical practice.
CKD outcome prediction tools have been developed by ourselves and others. These tools could be used to stratify care, but identify both false positives and -negatives. Further refinement should optimize the balance between identifying those at increased risk with clinical utility for stratifying care.