A depender da perspectiva teórica, a educação é fundamental para expandir a visão de mundo dos indivíduos, mas a sub-representação feminina nas ciências, especialmente em Física e Astronomia, perpetua uma visão distorcida da história e das capacidades das meninas e mulheres para as exatas. Livros didáticos e referências em sala de aula focam esmagadoramente em cientistas homens, ignorando as significativas contribuições de mulheres. Essa invisibilidade não se deve à ausência de mulheres na ciência, mas à falta de registro e crédito. Estudos mostram que meninas desenvolvem, desde cedo, a percepção de que "brilhantismo" é uma característica masculina, desestimulando-as a considerar carreiras científicas. Pesquisas em livros didáticos de física revelam que, mesmo quando uma cientista, Marie Curie, é representada visualmente, suas contribuições são omitidas no texto. Diante dessa lacuna, o site "Mulheres na Astro & Física" foi criado em 2024. Este projeto, desenvolvido no contexto de um estágio de docência, visa ser um glossário de mulheres que fizeram contribuições relevantes para a Física e Astronomia, disponibilizado de forma digital e acessível, servindo como recurso para professores e pessoas interessadas no tema. O site organiza as cientistas por linha temporal e disciplina, com informações concisas e visuais, combatendo a invisibilidade e incentivando a inclusão dessas figuras inspiradoras no ensino e na pesquisa. O "Mulheres na Astro & Física" conta atualmente com 60 cientistas e tem caráter dinâmico, buscando expansão contínua para abranger mais cientistas e áreas.
Malin C. J. Dixon Wilkins, Clémence Gausse, Luke T. Townsend
et al.
The behaviour of Ce-containing zirconolites in hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) materials is complex, characterised by redox interactions between the metallic HIP canister that result in reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+. In this work, a glass–ceramic of composition 70 wt.% CaZr0.9Ce0.1Ti2O7 ceramic in 30 wt.% Na2Al2Si6O16 glass was produced by HIP (approx. 170 cm3 canister) to examine the extent of the material–canister interaction. A complex material with six distinct regions was produced, with the extent of Ce reduction varying depending on the distance from the canister. Notably, the innermost bulk regions (those approximately 7 mm from the canister) contained only Ce4+, demonstrating that a production-scale HIPed glass–ceramic would indeed have a bulk region unaffected by the reducing environment induced by a ferrous HIP canister despite the flow of glass at the HIP temperature. Each of the six regions was characterised by XRD (including Rietveld method refinements), SEM/EDX and linear combination fitting of Ce L3-edge XANES spectra. Regions in the lower part of the canister were found to contain a significantly higher fraction of Ce4+ compared to the upper regions. Though zirconolite-2M was the major crystalline phase observed in all regions, the relative abundances of minor phases (including sphene, baddeleyite, rutile and perovskite) were higher in the outermost regions, which comprised a significantly reduced Ce inventory.
Apresentamos neste artigo um panorama dos limites físicos que os organismos vivos podem suportar para se desenvolver, em termos de temperatura, pressão, acidez e outros parâmetros importantes. Discutimos também a recente avaliação quantitativa das biomassas de cada grupo e a questão dos organismos quimioautotróficos.
Ian Daly, Nicoletta Nicolaou, Duncan Williams
et al.
AbstractMusic provides a means of communicating affective meaning. However, the neurological mechanisms by which music induces affect are not fully understood. Our project sought to investigate this through a series of experiments into how humans react to affective musical stimuli and how physiological and neurological signals recorded from those participants change in accordance with self-reported changes in affect. In this paper, the datasets recorded over the course of this project are presented, including details of the musical stimuli, participant reports of their felt changes in affective states as they listened to the music, and concomitant recordings of physiological and neurological activity. We also include non-identifying meta data on our participant populations for purposes of further exploratory analysis. This data provides a large and valuable novel resource for researchers investigating emotion, music, and how they affect our neural and physiological activity.
Opacities of the solar and stellar atmospheres are caused by a large number of radiative processes. Within development of more sophisticated stellar atmosphere models, we can further investigate known processes and include all processes not considered before. We calculate the average cross-section and rate coefficients for the photodissociation of the alkali molecular ions Li+2 , Na + 2 and LiNa ready for further use with a particular accent to the applications for astro plasma research and low temperature laboratory plasma research.
Several astronomical events in the past have shown their potential to attract tourists. This motivates some astronomers and tourism activists to create tourism related events when an interesting astronomical phenomenon occur. The most attractive recent astronomical phenomenon for tourists was the solar eclipse as was proven during the total solar eclipse of March 9, 2016. Similarly, other phenomena such as the lunar eclipse, meteor shower, Mars Opposition have some potential to be exploited as events to attract tourists. Belitong Geopark had organized a sky observation event, for example super blue blood moon event on January 31, 2018 and Mars opposition event on July 21, 2018. It successfully drew attention far and wide, but it needed more effort and creativity to make these events more attractive and marketable. Other cultural heritage sites which contain inherent astronomical tie-in knowledge, such as Borobudur Temple, are also strong prospective to be developed for astro-tourism destinations. In the future, astro-tourism permanent facilities may be developed, for example, sky observation facilities for amateurs in Dark Sky National Park, near Mount Timau National Observatory in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
A fundamental activity to achieve software quality is software testing, whose results are typically stored in log files. These files contain the richest and more detailed source of information for developers trying to understand failures and identify their potential causes. Analyzing and understanding the information presented in log files, however, can be a complex task, depending on the amount of errors and the variety of information. Some previously proposed tools try to visualize test information, but they have limited interaction and present a single perspective of such data. This paper presents ASTRO, an infrastructure that extracts information from a number of log files and presents it in multi-perspective interactive visualizations that aim at easing and improving the developers' analysis process. A study carried out with practitioners from 3 software test factories indicated that ASTRO helps to analyze information of interest, with less accuracy in tasks that involved assimilation of information from different perspectives. Based on their difficulties, participants also provided feedback for improving the tool.
L. Fiorini, Raffaele Limosani, Luigi Coviello
et al.
Service robots have the potential to support the personal mobility of elderly population. Monitoring and measuring grasping force in older adults is an important issue both from robotic and clinical perspectives. From robot point of view, new adaptive control strategies can be implemented based on the users' force; clinicians can monitor the changes in the grasp strength over time to evaluate abnormal conditions, which can be associated with geriatric syndromes. In this context, this work focused on the design, development and testing of a sensorized smart handle able to enhance the robotic mobility support service provided by the robot, called ASTRO. The primary goal of this paper is to design the sensorized handle according to clinical and technical specifications in terms of working range, sensitivity and clinical requirements. Then, the smart handle was tested with 19 subjects to investigate whether the system is able to detect forces correlated to the ones measured with a traditional tool. Additionally, further analysis were conducted to analyse how the forces were distributed to refine and optimize the design. The study shows meaningful results as the grasp forces measured with the smart handle and the traditional tool were significantly correlated.
We promote the precise gamma-ray observation project Gamma-Ray Astro-Imager with Nuclear Emulsion (GRAINE), which uses balloon-borne emulsion gamma-ray telescopes. The emulsion telescope realizes observations with high angular resolution, polarization sensitivity, and large aperture area in the 0.01--100 GeV energy region. Herein, we report the data analysis of emulsion tracks and the first demonstration of gamma-ray imaging via an emulsion telescope by using the flight data from the balloon experiment performed in 2015 (GRAINE 2015). The emulsion films were scanned by the latest read-out system for a total area of 41 m$^2$ in three months, and then the gamma-ray event selection was automatically processed. Millions of electron-pair events are accumulated in the balloon-borne emulsion telescope. The emulsion telescope detected signals from a calibration source (gamma rays from the interaction of cosmic rays with an aluminum plate) with a high significance during the balloon observation and created a gamma-ray image consistent with the source size and the expected angular resolution in the energy range of 100--300 MeV. The flight performance obtained in the GRAINE 2015 experiment proves that balloon-borne emulsion telescope experiments with larger area are feasible while maintaining expected imaging performance.
The breakup of Hitomi (ASTRO-H) on 26 March 2016 is analysed. Debris from the fragmentation is used to estimate the time of the event by propagating backwards and estimating the close approach with the parent object. Based on this method, the breakup event is predicted to have occurred at approximately 01:42 UTC on 26 March 2016. The Gaussian variation of parameters equations based on the instantaneous orbits at the predicted time of the event are solved to gain additional insight into the on-orbit position of Hitomi at the time of the event and to test an alternate approach of determining the event epoch and location. A conjunction analysis is carried out between Hitomi and all catalogued objects which were in orbit around the estimated time of the anomaly. Several debris objects have close approaches with Hitomi; however, there is no evidence to support the breakup was caused by a catalogued object. Debris from both of the largest fragmentation events—the Iridium 33–Cosmos 2251 conjunction in 2009 and the intentional destruction of Fengyun 1C in 2007—is involved in close approaches with Hitomi indicating the persistent threat these events have caused in subsequent space missions. To quantify the magnitude of a potential conjunction, the fragmentation resulting from a collision with the debris is modelled using the EVOLVE-4 breakup model. The debris characteristics are estimated from two-line element data. This analysis is indicative of the threat to space assets that mission planners face due to the growing debris population. The impact of the actual event to the environment is investigated based on the debris associated with Hitomi which is currently contained in the United States Strategic Command’s catalogue. A look at the active missions in the orbital vicinity of Hitomi reveals that the Hubble Space Telescope is among the spacecraft which may be immediately affected by the new debris.Graphical abstract.
BACKGROUND Whether people with asthma gain and maintain control over their condition depends not only on the availability of effective drugs, but also on multiple patient and health care professional (HCP) behaviors. Research in asthma rarely considers how these behaviors interact with each other and drug effectiveness to determine health outcomes, which may limit real-life applicability of findings. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a logic process model (Asthma Care Model; ACM) that explains how patient and HCP behaviors impact on the asthma care process. METHODS Within a European research project on asthma (ASTRO-LAB), we reviewed asthma care guidelines and empirical literature, and conducted qualitative interviews with patients and HCPs. Findings were discussed with the project team and respiratory care experts and integrated in a causal model. RESULTS The model outlines a causal sequence of treatment events, from diagnosis and assessment to treatment prescription, drug exposure, and health outcomes. The relationships between these components are moderated by patient behaviors (medication adherence, symptom monitoring, managing triggers, and exacerbations) and HCP behaviors (medical care and self-management support). Modifiable and nonmodifiable behavioral determinants influence the behaviors of patients and HCPs. The model is dynamic as it includes feedback loops of behavioral and clinical outcomes, which influence future patient and HCP decision making. Key evidence for each relationship is summarized to derive research priorities and clinical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS The ACM model is of interest to both researchers and practitioners, and intended as a first version (ACM-v1) of a common framework for generating and translating research evidence in asthma care.
Purpose/Objective(s): After breast conserving surgery, adjuvant radiation therapy represents the standard of care for most patients. However, multiple options exist beyond standard fractionated whole breast irradiation including hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HFRT), accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), and endocrine therapy (ET) alone, which can limit treatment duration, and potentially reduce morbidity and cost. Limited data are available on the percentage of patients eligible for these alternatives; therefore, a Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) analysis was performed to assess candidacy for these alternative options in women with early stage breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Women treated for breast cancer between the years of 2010 and 2012 were identified in the SEER database. Patients with unknown staging, metastatic disease, T3/T4 disease, and ≥N1 disease were excluded. Patients were defined as eligible for HFRT based on the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) consensus guidelines and randomised trial testing intensity modulated and partial organ radiotherapy following breast conservation surgery for early breast cancer (IMPORT LOW) trial criteria, APBI based on the ASTRO, American Brachytherapy Society and the Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie of European Society for Therapeutic Radiotherapy and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) consensus guidelines, and GEC-ESTRO APBI and IMPORT LOW trial criteria, and ET alone based on the Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9343 and Post-operative Radiotherapy in Minimum Risk Elderly II inclusion criteria. Results: A total of 108,484 women with early stage breast cancer who met the aforementioned inclusion criteria were identified. Of these patients, 86,896 (80.1%) were eligible for HFRT based on ASTRO consensus guidelines and 81,459 (75.0%) based on IMPORT LOW trial criteria. Regarding APBI, 44,797 (41.2%), 81,020 (74.6%), 81,020 (74.6%) were eligible according to ASTRO, ABS, GEC-ESTRO consensus guidelines, respectively, 97,301 (89.7%) patients according to the GEC-ESTRO trial criteria, and 81,459 (75.0%) patients according to the IMPORT LOW trial criteria. For ET alone, 23,006 (21.2%) were eligible according to Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9343 criteria and 42,104 (38.8%) according to Post-operative Radiotherapy in Minimum Risk Elderly II criteria. Conclusions: This SEER analysis demonstrates that a substantial proportion of women with early stage breast cancer are eligible for HFRT, APBI, or ET alone after breast conserving surgery according to consensus guidelines and prospective trial criteria. With incorporation of additional pathologic, dosimetric, and chemotherapy data, quality assurance pathways may use such data to help ensure patients are receiving appropriate risk stratified treatment recommendations.
M. Peters, J. R. van der Voort van Zyp, M. Moerland
et al.
BACKGROUND Whole-gland salvage Iodine-125-brachytherapy is a potentially curative treatment strategy for localised prostate cancer (PCa) recurrences after radiotherapy. Prognostic factors influencing PCa-specific and overall survival (PCaSS & OS) are not known. The objective of this study was to develop a multivariable, internally validated prognostic model for survival after whole-gland salvage I-125-brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Whole-gland salvage I-125-brachytherapy patients treated in the Netherlands from 1993-2010 were included. Eligible patients had a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy-confirmed localised recurrence after biochemical failure (clinical judgement, ASTRO or Phoenix-definition). Recurrences were assessed clinically and with CT and/or MRI. Metastases were excluded using CT/MRI and technetium-99m scintigraphy. Multivariable Cox-regression was used to assess the predictive value of clinical characteristics in relation to PCa-specific and overall mortality. PCa-specific mortality was defined as patients dying with distant metastases present. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation (20 imputed sets). Internal validation was performed and the C-statistic calculated. Calibration plots were created to visually assess the goodness-of-fit of the final model. Optimism-corrected survival proportions were calculated. All analyses were performed according to the TRIPOD statement. RESULTS Median total follow-up was 78months (range 5-139). A total of 62 patients were treated, of which 28 (45%) died from PCa after mean (±SD) 82 (±36) months. Overall, 36 patients (58%) patients died after mean 84 (±40) months. PSA doubling time (PSADT) remained a predictive factor for both types of mortality (PCa-specific and overall): corrected hazard ratio's (HR's) 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86-0.98, p=0.02) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90-0.99, p=0.01), respectively (C-statistics 0.71 and 0.69, respectively). Calibration was accurate up to 96month follow-up. Over 80% of patients can survive 8years if PSADT>24months (PCaSS) and >33months (OS). Only approximately 50% survival is achieved with a PSADT of 12months. CONCLUSION A PSADT of respectively >24months and >33months can result in >80% probability of PCa- specific and overall survival 8years after whole-gland salvage I-125-brachytherapy. Survival should be weighed against toxicity from a salvage procedure. Larger series and external validation are necessary.
AbstractRecent all-sky and large-area astronomical surveys and their catalogued data over the whole range of electromagnetic spectrum, from γ-rays to radio waves, are reviewed, including such as Fermi-GLAST and INTEGRAL in γ-ray, ROSAT, XMM and Chandra in X-ray, GALEX in UV, SDSS and several POSS I and POSS II-based catalogues (APM, MAPS, USNO, GSC) in the optical range, 2MASS in NIR, WISE and AKARI IRC in MIR, IRAS and AKARI FIS in FIR, NVSS and FIRST in radio range, and many others, as well as the most important surveys giving optical images (DSS I and II, SDSS, etc.), proper motions (Tycho, USNO, Gaia), variability (GCVS, NSVS, ASAS, Catalina, Pan-STARRS), and spectroscopic data (FBS, SBS, Case, HQS, HES, SDSS, CALIFA, GAMA). An overall understanding of the coverage along the whole wavelength range and comparisons between various surveys are given: galaxy redshift surveys, QSO/AGN, radio, Galactic structure, and Dark Energy surveys. Astronomy has entered the Big Data era, with Astrophysical Virtual Observatories and Computational Astrophysics playing an important role in using and analyzing big data for new discoveries.