Evaluation of performance of the MACAO systems at the VLTI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rengaswamy, Sridharan; Haguenauer, Pierre; Brillant, Stephane; Cortes, Angela; Girard, Julien H.; Guisard, Stephane; Paufique, Jérôme; Pino, Andres

2010-07-01

Multiple Application Curvature Adaptive Optics (MACAO) systems are used at the coudé focus of the unit telescopes (UTs) at the La-Silla Paranal Observatory, Paranal, to correct for the wave-front aberrations induced by the atmosphere. These systems are in operation since 2005 and are designed to provide beams with 10 mas residual rms tip-tilt error to the VLTI laboratory. We have initiated several technical studies such as measuring the Strehl ratio of the images recorded at the guiding camera of the VLTI, establishing the optimum setup of the MACAO to get collimated and focused beam down to the VLTI laboratory and to the instruments, and ascertaining the data generated by the real time computer, all aimed at characterizing and improving the overall performance of these systems. In this paper we report the current status of these studies.

What Studying Problems Are Faced by the Adolescent Grade Repeaters in Macao: Uncovering Underlying Mechanisms Based on Evidences from the PISA 2012 Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sit, Pou-seong; Cheung, Kwok-cheung; Cheong, Wai-cheong; Mak, Soi-kei; Soh, Kay-cheng; Ieong, Man-kai

2015-01-01

Most schools in Macao are private schools, and there is a variety of grade repetition policy practiced in the 45 secondary schools. The policies are translated into school-based accountability of some kind of minimum competency standards. The objective of this study is to uncover the mediation mechanisms accounting for the influences of grade…

"Macao Has Died, Traditional Chinese Characters Have Died": A Study of Netizens' Comments on the Choice of Chinese Scripts in Macao

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yan, Xi

2016-01-01

Local people's sense of place identity might feel threatened in the midst of rapid social change or at a time of crisis, they come into collective consciousness and are particularly likely to assert and highlight their local place identity. Languages (including scripts) become one way for them to maintain an authentic claim to a place and give it…

Sharper and Deeper Views with MACAO-VLTI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2003-05-01

"First Light" with Powerful Adaptive Optics System for the VLT Interferometer Summary On April 18, 2003, a team of engineers from ESO celebrated the successful accomplishment of "First Light" for the MACAO-VLTI Adaptive Optics facility on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranal Observatory (Chile). This is the second Adaptive Optics (AO) system put into operation at this observatory, following the NACO facility ( ESO PR 25/01 ). The achievable image sharpness of a ground-based telescope is normally limited by the effect of atmospheric turbulence. However, with Adaptive Optics (AO) techniques, this major drawback can be overcome so that the telescope produces images that are as sharp as theoretically possible, i.e., as if they were taken from space. The acronym "MACAO" stands for "Multi Application Curvature Adaptive Optics" which refers to the particular way optical corrections are made which "eliminate" the blurring effect of atmospheric turbulence. The MACAO-VLTI facility was developed at ESO. It is a highly complex system of which four, one for each 8.2-m VLT Unit Telescope, will be installed below the telescopes (in the Coudé rooms). These systems correct the distortions of the light beams from the large telescopes (induced by the atmospheric turbulence) before they are directed towards the common focus at the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). The installation of the four MACAO-VLTI units of which the first one is now in place, will amount to nothing less than a revolution in VLT interferometry . An enormous gain in efficiency will result, because of the associated 100-fold gain in sensitivity of the VLTI. Put in simple words, with MACAO-VLTI it will become possible to observe celestial objects 100 times fainter than now . Soon the astronomers will be thus able to obtain interference fringes with the VLTI ( ESO PR 23/01 ) of a large number of objects hitherto out of reach with this powerful observing technique, e.g. external galaxies. The ensuing high-resolution images and spectra will open entirely new perspectives in extragalactic research and also in the studies of many faint objects in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. During the present period, the first of the four MACAO-VLTI facilties was installed, integrated and tested by means of a series of observations. For these tests, an infrared camera was specially developed which allowed a detailed evaluation of the performance. It also provided some first, spectacular views of various celestial objects, some of which are shown here. PR Photo 12a/03 : View of the first MACAO-VLTI facility at Paranal PR Photo 12b/03 : The star HIC 59206 (uncorrected image). PR Photo 12c/03 : HIC 59206 (AO corrected image) PR Photo 12e/03 : HIC 69495 (AO corrected image) PR Photo 12f/03 : 3-D plot of HIC 69495 images (without and with AO correction) PR Photo 12g/03 : 3-D plot of the artificially dimmed star HIC 74324 (without and with AO correction) PR Photo 12d/03 : The MACAO-VLTI commissioning team at "First Light" PR Photo 12h/03 : K-band image of the Galactic Center PR Photo 12i/03 : K-band image of the unstable star Eta Carinae PR Photo 12j/03 : K-band image of the peculiar star Frosty Leo MACAO - the Multi Application Curvature Adaptive Optics facility ESO PR Photo 12a/03 ESO PR Photo 12a/03 [Preview - JPEG: 408 x 400 pix - 56k [Normal - JPEG: 815 x 800 pix - 720k] Captions : PR Photo 12a/03 is a front view of the first MACAO-VLTI unit, now installed at the 8.2-m VLT KUEYEN telescope. Adaptive Optics (AO) systems work by means of a computer-controlled deformable mirror (DM) that counteracts the image distortion induced by atmospheric turbulence. It is based on real-time optical corrections computed from image data obtained by a "wavefront sensor" (a special camera) at very high speed, many hundreds of times each second. The ESO Multi Application Curvature Adaptive Optics (MACAO) system uses a 60-element bimorph deformable mirror (DM) and a 60-element curvature wavefront sensor, with a "heartbeat" of 350 Hz (times per second). With this high spatial and temporal correcting power, MACAO is able to nearly restore the theoretically possible ("diffraction-limited") image quality of an 8.2-m VLT Unit Telescope in the near-infrared region of the spectrum, at a wavelength of about 2 µm. The resulting image resolution (sharpness) of the order of 60 milli-arcsec is an improvement by more than a factor of 10 as compared to standard seeing-limited observations. Without the benefit of the AO technique, such image sharpness could only be obtained if the telescope were placed above the Earth's atmosphere. The technical development of MACAO-VLTI in its present form was begun in 1999 and with project reviews at 6 months' intervals, the project quickly reached cruising speed. The effective design is the result of a very fruitful collaboration between the AO department at ESO and European industry which contributed with the diligent fabrication of numerous high-tech components, including the bimorph DM with 60 actuators, a fast-reaction tip-tilt mount and many others. The assembly, tests and performance-tuning of this complex real-time system was assumed by ESO-Garching staff. Installation at Paranal The first crates of the 60+ cubic-meter shipment with MACAO components arrived at the Paranal Observatory on March 12, 2003. Shortly thereafter, ESO engineers and technicians began the painstaking assembly of this complex instrument, below the VLT 8.2-m KUEYEN telescope (formerly UT2). They followed a carefully planned scheme, involving installation of the electronics, water cooling systems, mechanical and optical components. At the end, they performed the demanding optical alignment, delivering a fully assembled instrument one week before the planned first test observations. This extra week provided a very welcome and useful opportunity to perform a multitude of tests and calibrations in preparation of the actual observations. AO to the service of Interferometry The VLT Interferometer (VLTI) combines starlight captured by two or more 8.2- VLT Unit Telescopes (later also from four moveable1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes) and allows to vastly increase the image resolution. The light beams from the telescopes are brought together "in phase" (coherently). Starting out at the primary mirrors, they undergo numerous reflections along their different paths over total distances of several hundred meters before they reach the interferometric Laboratory where they are combined to within a fraction of a wavelength, i.e., within nanometers! The gain by the interferometric technique is enormous - combining the light beams from two telescopes separated by 100 metres allows observation of details which could otherwise only be resolved by a single telescope with a diameter of 100 metres. Sophisticated data reduction is necessary to interpret interferometric measurements and to deduce important physical parameters of the observed objects like the diameters of stars, etc., cf. ESO PR 22/02 . The VLTI measures the degree of coherence of the combined beams as expressed by the contrast of the observed interferometric fringe pattern. The higher the degree of coherence between the individual beams, the stronger is the measured signal. By removing wavefront aberrations introduced by atmospheric turbulence, the MACAO-VLTI systems enormously increase the efficiency of combining the individual telescope beams. In the interferometric measurement process, the starlight must be injected into optical fibers which are extremely small in order to accomplish their function; only 6 µm (0.006 mm) in diameter. Without the "refocussing" action of MACAO, only a tiny fraction of the starlight captured by the telescopes can be injected into the fibers and the VLTI would not be working at the peak of efficiency for which it has been designed. MACAO-VLTI will now allow a gain of a factor 100 in the injected light flux - this will be tested in detail when two VLT Unit Telescopes, both equipped with MACAO-VLTI's, work together. However, the very good performance actually achieved with the first system makes the engineers very confident that a gain of this order will indeed be reached. This ultimate test will be performed as soon as the second MACAO-VLTI system has been installed later this year. MACAO-VLTI First Light After one month of installation work and following tests by means of an artificial light source installed in the Nasmyth focus of KUEYEN, MACAO-VLTI had "First Light" on April 18 when it received "real" light from several astronomical obejcts. During the preceding performance tests to measure the image improvement (sharpness, light energy concentration) in near-infrared spectral bands at 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 µm, MACAO-VLTI was checked by means of a custom-made Infrared Test Camera developed for this purpose by ESO. This intermediate test was required to ensure the proper functioning of MACAO before it is used to feed a corrected beam of light into the VLTI. After only a few nights of testing and optimizing of the various functions and operational parameters, MACAO-VLTI was ready to be used for astronomical observations. The images below were taken under average seeing conditions and illustrate the improvement of the image quality when using MACAO-VLTI . MACAO-VLTI - First Images Here are some of the first images obtained with the test camera at the first MACAO-VLTI system, now installed at the 8.2-m VLT KUEYEN telescope. ESO PR Photo 12b/03 ESO PR Photo 12b/03 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 468 pix - 25k [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 938 pix - 291k] ESO PR Photo 12c/03 ESO PR Photo 12c/03 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 469 pix - 14k [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 938 pix - 135k] Captions : PR Photos 12b-c/03 show the first image, obtained by the first MACAO-VLTI system at the 8.2-m VLT KUEYEN telescope in the infrared K-band (wavelength 2.2 µm). It displays images of the star HIC 59206 (visual magnitude 10) obtained before (left; Photo 12b/03 ) and after (right; Photo 12c/03 ) the adaptive optics system was switched on. The binary is separated by 0.120 arcsec and the image was taken under medium seeing conditions (0.75 arcsec) seeing. The dramatic improvement in image quality is obvious. ESO PR Photo 12d/03 ESO PR Photo 12d/03 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 427 pix - 18k [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 854 pix - 205k] ESO PR Photo 12e/03 ESO PR Photo 12e/03 [Preview - JPEG: 483 x 400 pix - 17k [Normal - JPEG: 966 x 800 pix - 169k] Captions : PR Photo 12d/03 shows one of the best images obtained with MACAO-VLTI (logarithmic intensity scale). The seeing was 0.8 arcsec at the time of the observations and three diffraction rings can clearly be seen around the star HIC 69495 of visual magnitude 9.9. This pattern is only well visible when the image resolution is very close to the theoretical limit. The exposure of the point-like source lasted 100 seconds through a narrow K-band filter. It has a Strehl ratio (a measure of light concentration) of about 55% and a Full-Width- Half-Maximum (FWHM) of 0.060 arcsec. The 3-D plot ( PRPhoto 12e/03 ) demonstrates the tremendous gain in peak intensity of the AO image (right) in peak intensity as compared to "open-loop" image (the "noise" to the left) obtained without the benefit of AO. ESO PR Photo 12f/03 ESO PR Photo 12f/03 [Preview - JPEG: 494 x 400 pix - 20k [Normal - JPEG: 988 x 800 pix - 204k] Caption : PR Photo 12f/03 demonstrates the correction performance of MACAO-VLTI when using a faint guide star. The observed star ( HIC 74324 (stellar spectral type G0 and visual magnitude 9.4) was artificially dimmed by a neutral optical filter to visual magnitude 16.5. The observation was carried out in 0.55 arcsec seeing and with a rather short atmospheric correlation time of 3 milliseconds at visible wavelengths. The Strehl ratio in the 25-second K-band exposure is about 10% and the FWHM is 0.14 arcseconds. The uncorrected image is shown to the left for comparison. The improvement is again impressive, even for a star as faint as this, indicating that guide stars of this magnitude are feasible during future observations. ESO PR Photo 12g/03 ESO PR Photo 12g/03 [Preview - JPEG: 528 x 400 pix - 48k [Normal - JPEG: 1055 x 800 pix - 542k] Captions : PR Photo 12g/03 shows some of the MACAO-VLTI commissioning team members in the VLT Control Room at the moment of "First Light" during the night between April 18-19, 2003. Sitting: Markus Kasper, Enrico Fedrigo - Standing: Robin Arsenault, Sebastien Tordo, Christophe Dupuy, Toomas Erm, Jason Spyromilio, Rob Donaldson (all from ESO). PR Photos 12b-c/03 show the first image in the infrared K-band (wavelength 2.2 µm) of a star (visual magnitude 10) obtained without and with image corrections by means of adaptive optics. PR Photo 12d/03 displays one of the best images obtained with MACAO-VLTI during the early tests. It shows a Strehl ratio (measure of light concentration) that fulfills the specifications according to which MACAO-VLTI was built. This enormous improvement when using AO techniques is clearly demonstrated in PR Photo 12e/03 , with the uncorrected image profile (left) hardly visible when compared to the corrected profile (right). PR Photo 11f/03 demonstrates the correction capabilities of MACAO-VLTI when using a faint guide star. Tests using different spectral types showed that the limiting visual magnitude varies between 16 for early-type B-stars and about 18 for late-type M-stars. Astronomical Objects seen at the Diffraction Limit The following examples of MACAO-VLTI observations of two well-known astronomical objects were obtained in order to provisionally evaluate the research opportunities now opening with MACAO-VLTI. They may well be compared with space-based images. The Galactic Center ESO PR Photo 12h/03 ESO PR Photo 12h/03 [Preview - JPEG: 693 x 400 pix - 46k [Normal - JPEG: 1386 x 800 pix - 403k] Caption : PR Photo 12h/03 shows a 90-second K-band exposure of the central 6 x 13 arcsec 2 around the Galactic Center obtained by MACAO-VLTI under average atmospheric conditions (0.8 arcsec seeing). Although the 14.6 magnitude guide star is located roughly 20 arcsec from the field center - this leading to isoplanatic degradation of image sharpness - the present image is nearly diffraction limited and has a point-source FWHM of about 0.115 arcsec. The center of our own galaxy is located in the Sagittarius constellation at a distance of approximately 30,000 light-years. PR Photo 12h/03 shows a short-exposure infrared view of this region, obtained by MACAO-VLTI during the early test phase. Recent AO observations using the NACO facility at the VLT provide compelling evidence that a supermassive black hole with 2.6 million solar masses is located at the very center, cf. ESO PR 17/02 . This result, based on astrometric observations of a star orbiting the black hole and approaching it to within a distance of only 17 light-hours, would not have been possible without images of diffraction limited resolution. Eta Carinae ESO PR Photo 12i/03 ESO PR Photo 12i/03 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 482 pix - 25k [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 963 pix - 313k] Caption : PR Photo 12i/03 displays an infrared narrow K-band image of the massive star Eta Carinae . The image quality is difficult to estimate because the central star saturated the detector, but the clear structure of the diffraction spikes and the size of the smallest features visible in the photo indicate a near-diffraction limited performance. The field measures about 6.5 x 6.5 arcsec 2. Eta Carinae is one of the heaviest stars known, with a mass that probably exceeds 100 solar masses. It is about 4 million times brighter than the Sun, making it one of the most luminous stars known. Such a massive star has a comparatively short lifetime of about 1 million years only and - measured in the cosmic timescale- Eta Carinae must have formed quite recently. This star is highly unstable and prone to violent outbursts. They are caused by the very high radiation pressure at the star's upper layers, which blows significant portions of the matter at the "surface" into space during violent eruptions that may last several years. The last of these outbursts occurred between 1835 and 1855 and peaked in 1843. Despite its comparaticely large distance - some 7,500 to 10,000 light-years - Eta Carinae briefly became the second brightest star in the sky at that time (with an apparent magnitude -1), only surpassed by Sirius. Frosty Leo ESO PR Photo 12j/03 ESO PR Photo 12j/03 [Preview - JPEG: 411 x 400 pix - 22k [Normal - JPEG: 821 x 800 pix - 344k] Caption : PR Photo 12j/03 shows a 5 x 5 arcsec 2 K-band image of the peculiar star known as "Frosty Leo" obtained in 0.7 arcsec seeing. Although the object is comparatively bright (visual magnitude 11), it is a difficult AO target because of its extension of about 3 arcsec at visible wavelengths. The corrected image quality is about FWHM 0.1 arcsec. Frosty Leo is a magnitude 11 (post-AGB) star surrounded by an envelope of gas, dust, and large amounts of ice (hence the name). The associated nebula is of "butterfly" shape (bipolar morphology) and it is one of the best known examples of the brief transitional phase between two late evolutionary stages, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and the subsequent planetary nebulae (PNe). For a three-solar-mass object like this one, this phase is believed to last only a few thousand years, the wink of an eye in the life of the star. Hence, objects like this one are very rare and Frosty Leo is one of the nearest and brightest among them.

Factors influencing Macao nurses' intention to leave current employment.

PubMed

Chan, Moon Fai; Luk, Andrew Leung; Leong, Sok Man; Yeung, Siu Ming; Van, Iat Kio

2009-03-01

To investigate factors associated with nurses' intention to leave current employment in Macao. The shortage of nursing staff and nurses voluntarily leaving their jobs has continued to be a problem affecting the delivery of health care all over the world. One way to alleviate this shortfall is via recruitment, but this is not always successful. Another way is to reduce the rate at which nurses voluntarily leave their work places. A descriptive survey was conducted and data were collected using a self-reported structured questionnaire. Nurses were recruited in the Health Bureau and one private hospital in Macao. The status of nurses' intention to leave current employment (yes vs. no) was the dependent variable and nurses' predisposing characteristics, organisational environments and five components on job satisfaction outcomes were independent variables. Of 426 nurses, 166 (39.0%) indicated an intention to leave current employment. The results showed that age (p < 0.001), work experience (p < 0.001), workplace (p = 0.015) and job satisfaction: pay and benefits (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors to predict nurses' intention to leave current employment. More than one-third of the nurses in Macao indicated an intention to leave current employment. This figure may be a cause of concern for the hospital management and highlights the need to implement strategies to improve the communication between nurses and the organisation, to enhance nurse job satisfaction and commitment to the organisation. Our findings outline some issues contributing to this problem and provide the nurse manager with information regarding specific influences on nurses' turnover in Macao. Given the complexity of issues outlined in this analysis, nurse managers should assist their nursing staff to deal with those influences, make efforts to address the nursing shortage that will require additional communications and recognise the needs and values of their staff and empower them to create a better work environment. As a consequence, their commitment to the organisation can be fostered.

Bioecology and vectorial capacity of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Macao, China, in relation to dengue virus transmission.

PubMed

Almeida, A Paulo G; Baptista, Susana S S G; Sousa, Carla A G C C; Novo, M Teresa L M; Ramos, Helena C; Panella, Nicholas A; Godsey, Marvin; Simões, M João; Anselmo, M Luisa; Komar, Nicholas; Mitchell, Carl J; Ribeiro, Henrique

2005-05-01

Until 2001, the Chinese Territory of Macao had not registered any autochthonous dengue cases, despite the abundance of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), a known vector. This work describes a bioecological characterization of the local Ae. albopictus adult population, with the purpose of estimating the receptivity of Macao to dengue introduction. In the wet seasons of 1997 and 1998 and the dry season of 1998, Ae. albopictus was the most abundant human-biting mosquito. Daily biting rates of 314 mosquitoes per person were recorded in the wet season with a reduction to 94 in the dry season. Ae. albopictus was mainly exophagic and exophilic and had a human blood index of 44%. The parity rate of field-collected mosquitoes was 57%. Daily survival rate ranged from 91 to 97%. Estimates of vectorial capacity ranged from 144 to 880, depending on what parameter values were used. These estimates indicated a great receptivity for the introduction of dengue viruses, as the 2001 outbreak came to prove.

Maternal, obstetric variables, perceived stress and health-related quality of life among pregnant women in Macao, China.

PubMed

Lau, Ying; Yin, Lei

2011-10-01

to identify associations between demographic, socio-economic and obstetric variables and health-related quality of life with perceived stress among Macao Chinese pregnant women. a cross-sectional, exploratory quantitative study. an antenatal clinic of a university-affiliated regional public hospital in Macao. a community-based sample (n = 1151) of pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy. perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, and health-related quality of life was measured using the standard Short Form-12 Health Survey. a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that pregnant women who were younger (β = 0.085, p = 0.002), single, divorced, separated or cohabiting (β = 0.067, p < 0.009), had a lower level of education (β = 0.079, p = 0.003), worked long hours (β = 0.102, p < 0.001) or who had an unplanned pregnancy (β = 0.063, p = 0.014) with late initiation of antenatal care (β = 0.066, p = 0.008) or poor physical (β = -0.501, p < 0.001) or mental (β = -0.115, p < 0.001) health-related quality of life had higher levels of perceived stress. preliminary information was provided about Macao pregnant women who had higher perceived stress during pregnancy that was associated with the demographic, socio-economic, obstetric and health-related quality-of-life variables. the development of a checklist or structured questions for clinical situations is necessary, and programmes of stress management should be tailor made during pregnancy. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative analysis of microsatellite variability in five macaw species (Psittaciformes, Psittacidae): Application for conservation

PubMed Central

Presti, Flavia T.; Oliveira-Marques, Adriana R.; Caparroz, Renato; Biondo, Cibele; Miyaki, Cristina Y.

2011-01-01

Cross-amplification was tested and variability in microsatellite primers (designed for Neotropical parrots) compared, in five macaw species, viz., three endangered blue macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii [extinct in the wild], Anodorhynchus leari [endangered] and Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus [vulnerable]), and two unthreatened red macaws (Ara chloropterus and Ara macao). Among the primers tested, 84.6% successfully amplified products in C. spixii, 83.3% in A. leari, 76.4% in A. hyacinthinus, 78.6% in A. chloropterus and 71.4% in A. macao. The mean expected heterozygosity estimated for each species, and based on loci analyzed in all the five, ranged from 0.33 (A. hyacinthinus) to 0.85 (A. macao). As expected, the results revealed lower levels of genetic variability in threatened macaw species than in unthreatened. The low combined probability of genetic identity and the moderate to high potential for paternity exclusion, indicate the utility of the microsatellite loci set selected for each macaw species in kinship and population studies, thus constituting an aid in planning in-situ and ex-situ conservation. PMID:21734841

Breast cancer screening behavior, attitude, barriers among middle-aged Chinese women in Macao, China.

PubMed

Gan, Yan Xiang; Lao, Cheng-Kin; Chan, Alexandre

2018-05-08

Breast cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer among females in Macao, but little is known about local practice of breast cancer screening. The study aims to evaluate breast cancer screening behaviors and to identify the predictors of insufficient knowledge and attitudes towards breast cancer and its screening among female residents. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from April to June 2016 in Macao. Quota sampling of women completed the modified Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs questionnaire (CBCSB) to assess their breast cancer-related perceptions, screening attitudes and behaviors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify the predictors of poor-screening practices, attitudes, knowledge and perceived barriers to mammography. A total of 417 women (mean age±SD: 50.5±5.7) completed surveys, with 160 (38.4%), 196 (47.0%) and 103 (24.7%) women received breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammography as recommended, respectively. Nulliparity (OR=2.56, 95% CI = 1.14-5.73) and low education (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.04-2.84) were significantly associated with negative attitude towards health check-ups. Women did not know anyone with breast cancer (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.50-3.55) were more likely to have insufficient knowledge about breast cancer. Low education (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.25-3.04) and not knowing anyone with breast cancer (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.31-3.13) were identified as predictors for perceived barriers to mammography. Recommendations for breast cancer screening are poorly followed by the residents in Macao, and a culturally tailored educational program is urgently needed to raise the public's awareness of the disease and the screening practices.

Spatial Analysis of Urban Form and Pedestrian Exposure to Traffic Noise

PubMed Central

Sheng, Ni; Tang, U. Wa

2011-01-01

In the Macao Peninsula, the high population density (49,763 inhabitants/km2) and the lack of control over the number of vehicles (460 vehicles/km) have led to an increase in urban pollution. To provide useful information to local government and urban planners, this paper investigates the spatial distribution of traffic noise in the Macao Peninsula. The interactions among urban form, traffic flow and traffic noise are addressed. Considering the spatial nature of urban geometry and traffic, a high-resolution GIS-based traffic noise model system is applied. Results indicate that the Macao Peninsula has fallen into a situation of serious traffic noise pollution. About 60% of traffic noise levels along the major pedestrian sidewalks in the evening peak hour exceed the National Standard of 70 dB(A) in China. In particular, about 21% of traffic noise levels along the pedestrian sidewalks are above the National Standard by 5 dB(A). Noticeably, the high pedestrian exposure to traffic noise in the historical urban area reduces the comfort of tourists walking in the historic centre and is ruining the reputation of the area as a World Cultural Heritage site. PMID:21776213

Spatial analysis of urban form and pedestrian exposure to traffic noise.

PubMed

Sheng, Ni; Tang, U Wa

2011-06-01

In the Macao Peninsula, the high population density (49,763 inhabitants/km2) and the lack of control over the number of vehicles (460 vehicles/km) have led to an increase in urban pollution. To provide useful information to local government and urban planners, this paper investigates the spatial distribution of traffic noise in the Macao Peninsula. The interactions among urban form, traffic flow and traffic noise are addressed. Considering the spatial nature of urban geometry and traffic, a high-resolution GIS-based traffic noise model system is applied. Results indicate that the Macao Peninsula has fallen into a situation of serious traffic noise pollution. About 60% of traffic noise levels along the major pedestrian sidewalks in the evening peak hour exceed the National Standard of 70 dB(A) in China. In particular, about 21% of traffic noise levels along the pedestrian sidewalks are above the National Standard by 5 dB(A). Noticeably, the high pedestrian exposure to traffic noise in the historical urban area reduces the comfort of tourists walking in the historic centre and is ruining the reputation of the area as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Gambling, Drinking and Quality of Life: Evidence from Macao and Australia.

PubMed

Loo, Jasmine M Y; Shi, Yongdong; Pu, Xiaohong

2016-06-01

The investigation of the interface between psychological constructs, compulsive consumption of alcohol and pathological gambling is an important avenue for development of future initiatives in social marketing or prevention programs. This cross-cultural study attempts to bridge the gap in literature by providing an evaluation of the predictive ability of psychological variables such as gambling urge, gambling-related erroneous cognitions and comorbid alcohol consumption on pathological gambling behaviour and its impact on overall quality of life indicators. Participants consist of 445 Macao and Australian young adults (Mean age = 23 years). Results indicate that probable pathological gamblers as compared with non-gamblers reported significantly lower quality of life in all domains-physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships and environment. Adults who drank more alcohol and have stronger erroneous cognitions evidenced higher pathological gambling behavior. Our research model fits both cohorts and interestingly, erroneous gambling-related cognitions serve as a full mediator for the predictive relationship between gambling urge and pathological gambling in the Macao sample, but serve as a partial mediator in the Australian sample. Targeting erroneous cognitions in future social marketing or preventive campaigns should demonstrate to be an important strategy in reducing the effects of urge to gamble among at-risk individuals. Further implications for the industry, marketing and governmental strategies are discussed.

Particle Swarm-Based Translation Control for Immersed Tunnel Element in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jun-jun; Yang, Xiao-jun; Xiao, Ying-jie; Xu, Bo-wei; Wu, Hua-feng

2018-03-01

Immersed tunnel is an important part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) project. In immersed tunnel floating, translation which includes straight and transverse movements is the main working mode. To decide the magnitude and direction of the towing force for each tug, a particle swarm-based translation control method is presented for non-power immersed tunnel element. A sort of linear weighted logarithmic function is exploited to avoid weak subgoals. In simulation, the particle swarm-based control method is evaluated and compared with traditional empirical method in the case of the HZMB project. Simulation results show that the presented method delivers performance improvement in terms of the enhanced surplus towing force.

A trade based view on casino taxation: market conditions.

PubMed

Li, Guoqiang; Gu, Xinhua; Wu, Jie

2015-06-01

This article presents a trade based theory of casino taxation along with empirical evidence found from Macao as a typical tourism resort. We prove that there is a unique optimum gaming tax in a particular market for casino gambling, argue that any change in this tax is engendered by external demand shifts, and suggest that the economic rent from gambling legalization should be shared through such optimal tax between the public and private sectors. Our work also studies the tradeoff between economic benefits and social costs arising from casino tourism, and provides some policy recommendations for the sustainable development of gaming-led economies. The theoretical arguments in this article turn out to be consistent with empirical observations on Macao realities over the recent decade.

Factors affecting the social problem-solving ability of baccalaureate nursing students.

PubMed

Lau, Ying

2014-01-01

The hospital environment is characterized by time pressure, uncertain information, conflicting goals, high stakes, stress, and dynamic conditions. These demands mean there is a need for nurses with social problem-solving skills. This study set out to (1) investigate the social problem-solving ability of Chinese baccalaureate nursing students in Macao and (2) identify the association between communication skill, clinical interaction, interpersonal dysfunction, and social problem-solving ability. All nursing students were recruited in one public institute through the census method. The research design was exploratory, cross-sectional, and quantitative. The study used the Chinese version of the Social Problem Solving Inventory short form (C-SPSI-R), Communication Ability Scale (CAS), Clinical Interactive Scale (CIS), and Interpersonal Dysfunction Checklist (IDC). Macao nursing students were more likely to use the two constructive or adaptive dimensions rather than the three dysfunctional dimensions of the C-SPSI-R to solve their problems. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that communication ability (ß=.305, p<.0001), clinical interaction (ß=.129, p=.047), and interpersonal dysfunction (ß=-.402, p<.0001) were associated with social problem-solving after controlling for covariates. Macao has had no problem-solving training in its educational curriculum; an effective problem-solving training should be implemented as part of the curriculum. With so many changes in healthcare today, nurses must be good social problem-solvers in order to deliver holistic care. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Protestant medical missions to China: the introduction of Western medicine with vaccination.

PubMed

Fu, Louis

2013-05-01

Modern medicine in China began with the arrival of Anglo-American Protestant missionaries in the early 19th century. Conditions were vastly different from the times of the Jesuits in Peking during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the priests enjoyed the endorsement of the Court and high officials. Faced with hostile and xenophobic officialdom and populace, surgeons of the British East India Company in collaboration with missionaries took the initiative. In 1805 Dr Alexander Pearson (1780-1874) introduced smallpox vaccination in Macao and Canton. Reverend Dr Robert Morrison (1782-1834) of the London Missionary Society with another East India Company Surgeon, Dr John Livingstone (1829) opened a dispensary for the poor in Macao in 1820. These pioneers paved the way for later Anglo-American medical missionaries who revolutionized medical practice in China.

Public Awareness and Practice of Responsible Gambling in Macao.

PubMed

Tong, Kwok-Kit; Hung, Eva P W; Lei, Caren M W; Wu, Anise M S

2018-01-30

Responsible gambling (RG) is a relatively new concept to the Macao gambling industry. Although recent studies reported a heightened public awareness of RG, the prevalence of disordered gambling is still high. This discrepancy may suggest an existing gap between RG awareness and gambling practices, pinpointing aspects that need to be improved by different RG stakeholders. The gap may be attributable to people's limited knowledge toward practices favoring RG. To explore means for enhancing the RG campaign, we studied Macao residents' interpretation and adoption of RG practices. In Study 1, a random community sample was collected to assess the extent to which common RG practices were adopted. Results suggested that there was a fair proportion of gamblers not adhering to them and gambling disorder tendency was related to the adoption of RG practices. It implied a successful promotion of RG practices may reduce gambling problems. In Study 2, focus group discussions were conducted to explore how RG was conceptualized. Twenty-five participants (including 11 casino employees) took part in four focus group interviews. All participants were aware of RG but their knowledge of RG practices was limited. Very few of them were able to identify major practices such as putting constraints on gambling amount and time and the application for self-exclusion. We argue that future RG promotion needs to be more specific and behavior-oriented and it should also address various procedural concerns on how RG practices can be implemented.

Evaluating the economic impact of casino liberalization in Macao.

PubMed

Zheng, Victor; Hung, Eva P W

2012-09-01

This paper aims to evaluate the economic impact after Macao decided to liberalize its gaming industry. By analysing both objective data of official statistics and subjective data of the perceptions of quality of life, we painted a picture of mixed blessings. Although objective indicators showed strong economic growth in terms of a rise in per capita GDP and public revenue as well as a decline in unemployment rate, subjective indicators revealed that local residents were less than optimistic about their own employment outlook and did not perceive any improvement in their overall economic situation. While casino liberalization brought forth tremendous economic gain, the general population did not subjectively feel the benefits. An integrative analysis of both objective and subjective indicators would therefore allow us to look closer how residents' lives in the micro-level could have been adversely affected by the prosperous economic outlook at the macro-level.

Internally mixed sea salt, soot, and sulfates at Macao, a coastal city in South China.

PubMed

Li, Weijun; Shao, Longyi; Shen, Rongrong; Yang, Shusheng; Wang, Zhishi; Tang, Uwa

2011-11-01

Direct observation of the mixing state of aerosol particles in a coastal urban city is critical to understand atmospheric processing and hygroscopic growth in humid air. Morphology, composition, and mixing state of individual aerosol particles from Macao, located south of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and 100 km west of Hong Kong, were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (TEM/EDX). SEM images show that soot and roughly spherical particles are prevalent in the samples. Based on the compositions of individual aerosol particles, aerosol particles with roughly spherical shape are classified into coarse Na-rich and fine S-rich particles. TEM/EDX indicates that each Na-rich particle consists of a Na-S core and NaNO3 shell. Even in the absence of heavy pollution, the marine sea salt particles were completely depleted in chloride, and Na-related sulfates and nitrates were enriched in Macao air. The reason could be that SO2 from the polluted PRD and ships in the South China Sea and NO2 from vehicles in the city sped up the chlorine depletion in sea salt through heterogeneous reactions. Fresh soot particles from vehicular emissions mainly occur near curbside. However, there are many aged soot particles in the sampling site surrounded by main roads 200 to 400 m away, suggesting that the fresh soot likely underwent a quick aging. Overall, secondary nitrates and sulfates internally mixed with soot and sea salt particles can totally change their surface hygroscopicity in coastal cities.

Development and evaluation of a learner-centered training course on communication skills for baccalaureate nursing students.

PubMed

Lau, Ying; Wang, Wenru

2013-12-01

There is no standardized or formal communication skills training in the current nursing curriculum in Macao, China. To develop and evaluate a learner-centered communication skills training course. Both qualitative and quantitative designs were used in two separate stages. A randomized sample and a convenience sample were taken from students on a four-year bachelor's degree program at a public institute in Macao. Stage I consisted of developing a learner-centered communication skills training course using four focus groups (n=32). Stage II evaluated the training's efficacy by comparing communication skills, clinical interaction, interpersonal dysfunction, and social problem-solving abilities using a quasi-experimental longitudinal pre-post design among 62 nursing students. A course evaluation form was also used. Content analysis was used to evaluate the essential themes in order to develop the specific content and teaching strategies of the course. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed significant improvement in all post-training scores for communication ability, content of communication, and handling of communication barriers. According to the mean scores of the course evaluation form, students were generally very satisfied with the course: 6.11 to 6.74 on a scale of 1 to 7. This study showed that the course was effective in improving communication skills, especially in terms of the content and the handling of communication barriers. The course filled an important gap in the training needs of nursing students in Macao. The importance of these findings and their implications for nursing education are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Holes: a novel method for promoting vegetation restoration (Macao)

Treesearch

Shao-Lin Peng; Yi-Na Yu; Yu-Ping Hou; Long-Sheng Yu; Bao-Ming Chen

2009-01-01

Restoration Notes have been a distinguishing feature of Ecological Restoration for more than 25 years. This section is geared toward introducing innovative research, tools, technologies, programs, and ideas, as well as providing short-term research results and updates on ongoing efforts.

Clinical characteristics and quality of life of older adults with cognitive impairment in Macao.

PubMed

Lam Nogueira, Bernice O C; Li, Lu; Meng, Li-Rong; Ungvari, Gabor S; Ng, Chee H; Chiu, Helen F K; Kuok, Kenny C F; Tran, Linda; Xiang, Yu-Tao

2018-02-06

Little is known about the characteristics of older adults with cognitive impairment in Macao. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and the quality of life (QOL) of older adults living in the community and nursing homes. A consecutive sample of 413 subjects (199 from the community; 214 from nursing homes) was recruited and interviewed using standardized instruments. Cognition was measured with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status and QOL with the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument. Altogether 87 subjects (21.0%) had cognitive impairment. On multivariate analyses, advanced age (P < 0.001, OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.03-1.1) and depressive symptoms (P = 0.03, OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 0.005-1.1) were positively associated with cognitive impairment. Married marital status (P = 0.01, OR = 0.3, 95%CI: 0.1-0.7) and higher education level (P < 0.001, OR = 0.1, 95%CI: 0.06-0.3) were negatively associated with cognitive impairment. After the confounders were controlled for, cognitive impairment was significantly associated with the lower psychological (F (11,412)  = 6.3, P = 0.01) and social relationship domains of QOL (F (11,412)  = 4.0, P = 0.04). Cognitive impairment was found to be common in community-dwelling and nursing home resident older adults in Macao. Given cognitive impairment's negative impact on QOL, appropriate strategies should be implemented to improve access to treatment in this population. © 2018 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.

Ten years maintaining MACAO-VLTI units in operation in the Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salgado, F.; Hudepohl, G.

2016-07-01

More than 10 years have already passed since the first Multiple Application Curvature Adaptive Optics (MACAO) facilities got the first light in UT2 the 18th of April, 2003, in the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Paranal Observatory. The achievable image sharpness of a ground-based telescope is normally limited by the effect of atmospheric turbulence. However, with Adaptive Optics (AO) techniques, this major drawback can be overcome so that the telescope produces images that are as sharp as theoretically possible, i.e., as if they were taken from space. [1] The intention of this document is summarize in few pages some highlights related with the activities needed to keep MACAO units in operation. Some statistics of problems based in Action Remedy tool is included, showing how through these years the number of problems has been reduced, even when there are still some unsolved ones. Some lessons have been learned and there are others one to learn. Corrective and predictive maintenance performed are shown too like the current measurements, transfer functions measurements, thermography pictures, health checks measuring interaction matrix and flat vectors to detect dead APDs or short circuits in the DM, etc. Some forced interventions are included as well like the removal of the cabinets from Coude rooms to avoid that acoustic noise and vibrations perturb the operations, the deformable mirrors reached by cooling leaks and a mirror that got rusty are shown too. Well knowledge of the system, good interaction between different disciplines groups to perform corrective and preventive maintenance seems to be key aspects of keeping it under control and operative during all these years leading to this good result.

77 FR 12935 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; New Designated Country (Armenia) and Other Trade Agreements Updates

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-02

... necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic... regarding the burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions..., Macao China, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain...

Secondhand smoke exposure of children at home and prevalence of parental smoking following implementation of the new tobacco control law in Macao.

PubMed

Zheng, Z L; Deng, H Y; Wu, C P; Lam, W L; Kuok, W S; Liang, W J; Wang, H L

2017-03-01

To investigate secondhand smoke exposure (SHS) of children at home and the prevalence of parental smoking after implementation of the new tobacco control law in Macao. This study explored whether the smoking ban in public places in Macao has decreased the prevalence of smoking or led to increased SHS exposure of children at home. As smokers cannot smoke in public places any more, they may smoke at home more frequently; a displacement effect of smoke-free legislation. Cross-sectional survey. This study surveyed 337 fathers and 538 mothers. Questions from a subset of key questions from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2nd edition) were applied to assess the SHS exposure of children and the prevalence of parental smoking since the smoking ban. A classification tree analysis was used to analyse the factors increasing SHS exposure of children. The prevalence of SHS exposure in children at home was 41.3%. The prevalence rates of paternal and maternal smoking were 43.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Compared with data reported by the Health Bureau of Macao SAR in 2011, the prevalence of parental smoking and the prevalence of SHS exposure of children at home have not decreased since the smoking ban. Analysis of the factors increasing the prevalence of SHS exposure of children indicated that fathers with an education level below high school were more likely to contribute to this increase, compared with fathers with a high school education or more (48.2% vs 32.4%, respectively). In addition, fathers represented the majority of smokers at home, accounting for 92.0% of 415 smoking parents. The prevalence of paternal smoking (82.0%) in the group of children with SHS exposure was much higher than that in the unexposed group (16.7%, Chi-squared test = 367.199, P = 0.000). The SHS exposure of children increased consistently with the decrease in paternal education level. This was consistent with the increasing prevalence of paternal smoking as paternal education level decreased. SHS exposure was most common among children whose fathers had an education level below high school and whose mothers were aged ≤29 years (75.0%). This study did not find any decline in the prevalence of parental smoking after the smoking ban. These parents were more likely to smoke at home after the ban, leading to more frequent SHS exposure for their children. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spread of English across Greater China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feng, Anwei

2012-01-01

Greater China is used in this article to refer to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Macao. While a holistic approach is adopted to present and compare the rapid spread of English and development in English language education in these geographically close, and sociopolitically, culturally and economically interrelated but hugely…

Multilingual Institutional Discourses of Negotiation and Intertextuality in Writing Center Interactions in Macao

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Alice Shu-Ju

2017-01-01

This dissertation explores the identity enactments (Bucholtz & Hall, 2005) of 14 multilingual university writing center tutors and multilingual student writers who use English and Putonghua to negotiate their interactions. The study is situated within sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978) and uses ethnographic methods such as observation,…

Stock in Trade: The Role of English in International Trade Proceedings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cremer, Rolf D.; Willes, Mary J.

1991-01-01

Examines the use of English by merchandisers in Macao, where the required proficiency exceeds that these individuals can be expected to possess. Examples of serious language mistakes are given and contextual and other clues are identified. Possible solutions for these problems are suggested and potential directions of further enquiry are explored.…

Online Help for Problem Gambling among Chinese Youths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Chang Boon Patrick

2011-01-01

The objectives of this study were to determine the perceptions and accessibility of online help for problem gambling among Chinese youths. A group of undergraduates participated in a survey cum laboratory exercise to search for help for problem gambling in Macao, Hong Kong, and China. Online search engines were used. During the search process,…

The Perceived Value of Higher Education: The Voice of Chinese Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lai, Linda S. L.; To, W. M.; Lung, Jane W. Y.; Lai, T. M.

2012-01-01

This paper describes an exploratory study on the perceived value of higher education by Chinese students in Macao SAR, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Taipei. Using responses from 316 students, we find that the Sheth-Newman-Gross Theory of Consumption Values explains how students perceive the services offered by higher education institutions. Students…

Dialogic Pedagogy in Creative Practice: A Conversation in Examples

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Archer, Carol; Kelen, Christopher

2015-01-01

This paper surveys examples of dialogic pedagogy in creative practices in the areas of Visual Studies and Creative Writing at universities in Hong Kong and Macao. The authors describe their own participant-observer experience of evolving pedagogy for creative practice through on-site and remote interaction, with colleagues and with and between…

Intent to Pursue Further Studies among Chinese Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

To, W. M.; Lai, Linda S. L.; Lung, Jane W. Y.; Lai, T. M.

2014-01-01

The number of students pursuing graduate qualifications has increased, especially in Asian countries and cities, such as China, Macao and Hong Kong. This paper examines the intent to pursue further studies among Chinese students according to the theory of planned behaviour. Based on responses from 321 final-year students in higher education…

Structural health monitoring of a reinforced concrete building during the severe typhoon Vicente in 2012.

PubMed

Kuok, Sin-Chi; Yuen, Ka-Veng

2013-01-01

The goal of this study is to investigate the structural performance of reinforced concrete building under the influence of severe typhoon. For this purpose, full-scale monitoring of a 22-story reinforced concrete building was conducted during the entire passage process of a severe typhoon "Vicente." Vicente was the eighth tropical storm developed in the Western North Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea in 2012. Moreover, it was the strongest and most devastating typhoon that struck Macao since 1999. The overall duration of the typhoon affected period that lasted more than 70 hours and the typhoon eye region covered Macao for around one hour. The wind and structural response measurements were acquired throughout the entire typhoon affected period. The wind characteristics were analyzed using the measured wind data including the wind speed and wind direction time histories. Besides, the structural response measurements of the monitored building were utilized for modal identification using the Bayesian spectral density approach. Detailed analysis of the field data and the typhoon generated effects on the structural performance are discussed.

Real-world emissions and fuel consumption of diesel buses and trucks in Macao: From on-road measurement to policy implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiaomeng; Zhang, Shaojun; Wu, Ye; Li, Zhenhua; Zhou, Yu; Fu, Lixin; Hao, Jiming

2015-11-01

A total of 13 diesel buses and 12 diesel trucks in Macao were tested using portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) including a SEMTECH-DS for gaseous emissions and a SEMTECH-PPMD for PM2.5. The average emission rates of gaseous pollutants and CO2 are developed with the operating mode defined by the instantaneous vehicle specific power (VSP) and vehicle speed. Both distance-based and fuel mass-based emission factors for gaseous pollutants (e.g., CO, THC and NOX) are further estimated under typical driving conditions. The average distance-based NOX emission of heavy-duty buses (HDBs) is higher than 13 g km-1. Considering the unfavorable conditions for selective reductions catalyst (SCR) systems, such as low-speed driving conditions, more effective technology options (e.g., dedicated natural gas buses and electric buses) should be considered by policy makers in Macao. We identified strong effects of the vehicle size, engine displacement and driving conditions on real-world CO2 emission factors and fuel consumption for diesel vehicles. Therefore, detailed profiles regarding vehicle specifications can reduce the uncertainty in their fleet-average on-road fuel consumption. In addition, strong correlations between relative emission factors and driving conditions indicated by the average speed of generated micro-trips are identified based on a micro-trip method. For example, distance-based emission factors of HDBs will increase by 39% for CO, 29% for THC, 43% for NOX and 26% for CO2 when the average speed decreases from 30 km h-1 to 20 km h-1. The mitigation of on-road emissions from diesel buses and trucks by improving traffic conditions through effective traffic and economic management measures is therefore required. This study demonstrates the important role of PEMS in understanding vehicle emissions and mitigation strategies from science to policy perspectives.

Instructional Practices and Science Performance of 10 Top-Performing Regions in PISA 2015

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lau, Kwok-chi; Lam, Terence Yuk-ping

2017-01-01

This study analysed 10 top-performing regions in PISA 2015 on their science performances and instructional practices. The regions include Singapore, Japan, Estonia, Taipei, Finland, Macao, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Korea. The science performances of the 10 regions and their teaching practices are described and compared. The construct of…

The Quality of Social Networks: Its Determinants and Impacts on Helping and Volunteering in Macao

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tong, Kwok Kit; Hung, Eva P. W.; Yuen, Sze Man

2011-01-01

Pro-social behaviors serve essential societal functions. This study examines the factors affecting the quality of social networks, in terms of network size and perceived respect. It further explores the role of social networks in enhancing helping intention and helping behaviors. Eight hundred and eighty people were randomly interviewed by phone.…

Lost in Translation? A Case Study of Macao in Fabricating a European Education Space in Asia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vong, Teresa Sou-Kuan; Wong, Matilda

2014-01-01

The creation of a European education space has been extensively discussed in Europe. Many scholars are concerned about the way in which the emergence of "global governmentality," such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), has produced a "soft…

JPRS Report, China.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-24

departments incapable of managing social economic development in Zhejiang. The broad introduction of the personal responsibility system and other... SOCIAL Wang Feng Addresses Conference on Civil Disputes, Commends Mediation Work [FAZHIBAO 14 JulJ 43 Educational Spending per High School Student Tar...RIBAO 11 JulJ 46 Zhejiang Governor Shen Zulun Calls for Personal , Administrative Efficiency fZHEJIANG RIBAO 22 JulJ 46 HONG KONG, MACAO Li Yu

Teaching Writing in Grades 4-6 in Urban Schools in the Greater China Region

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsiang, Tien Ping; Graham, Steve

2016-01-01

A random sample of 1102 grade 4-6 Chinese language arts teachers in Beijing, Macao, and Taipei City were surveyed about their instructional writing practices. Seventy-eight percent (n = 857) of the teachers completed the survey. Teachers were generally positive about the usefulness of their college teacher preparation program. They slightly agreed…

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Chlamydia psittaci in Captive Psittacines from Costa Rica.

PubMed

Sheleby-Elías, Jessica; Solórzano-Morales, Antony; Romero-Zuñiga, Juan José; Dolz, Gaby

2013-01-01

Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from 117 captive psittacine birds presented at veterinary clinics (88) and from shelters/rescue centers of wildlife (29) were collected to determine the prevalence of C. psittaci in captive birds in Costa Rica. Samples were collected during 2009 from a total of 19 different species of parrots, with Ara macao (33), Amazona autumnalis (24), Amazona ochrocephala (21), and Ara ararauna (8) being the most representative species sampled. C. psittaci was detected in four (3.4%) birds using molecular detection (PCR). The positive samples belonged to birds presented at veterinary clinics; three of them were Ara macao and one Amazona ochrocephala. Three birds were adults; all positive birds showed no symptoms of illness and lived in homes with other birds, two in San José and two in Heredia. Sequencing was used to confirm the PCR positive results, showing that two samples of C. psittaci belonged to genotype A, representing the first report of the presence of this genotype in Costa Rica. The detection of this bacterium in captive psittacine birds shows that there is a potential risk for people living or having contact with them and that there is a possibility of infecting other birds.

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Chlamydia psittaci in Captive Psittacines from Costa Rica

PubMed Central

Sheleby-Elías, Jessica; Solórzano-Morales, Ántony; Romero-Zuñiga, Juan José

2013-01-01

Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from 117 captive psittacine birds presented at veterinary clinics (88) and from shelters/rescue centers of wildlife (29) were collected to determine the prevalence of C. psittaci in captive birds in Costa Rica. Samples were collected during 2009 from a total of 19 different species of parrots, with Ara macao (33), Amazona autumnalis (24), Amazona ochrocephala (21), and Ara ararauna (8) being the most representative species sampled. C. psittaci was detected in four (3.4%) birds using molecular detection (PCR). The positive samples belonged to birds presented at veterinary clinics; three of them were Ara macao and one Amazona ochrocephala. Three birds were adults; all positive birds showed no symptoms of illness and lived in homes with other birds, two in San José and two in Heredia. Sequencing was used to confirm the PCR positive results, showing that two samples of C. psittaci belonged to genotype A, representing the first report of the presence of this genotype in Costa Rica. The detection of this bacterium in captive psittacine birds shows that there is a potential risk for people living or having contact with them and that there is a possibility of infecting other birds. PMID:24163776

Developing Creativity and Promoting Social Harmony: The Relationship between Government, School and Parents' Perceptions of Children's Creativity in Macao-SAR in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vong, Keang-Ieng

2008-01-01

The promotion of creativity in young children has been included in the agenda of the educational authorities in mainland China since 2001. Since then, attempts to implement this policy have appeared in different forms. The educational bureaux take measures by publishing documents and guidelines on the subject. While some kindergartens endeavour to…

Korean Affairs Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-20

trumpeter beautifying the colonial ascist rule of the U.S. Imperialists and inciting North-South confrontation and "prevailing over c ommunism ...for tourism in the Chang Bai Shan area. CSO: 4006/856 32 JPRS-KAR-85-063 20 September 1985 INTER-KOREAN AFFAIRS BRIEFS DETENTION OF SOUTH...Yan Bian told the visiting press delegation from Hong Kong and Macao on 31 July during a briefing that Yan Bian would develop tourism at a full

JPRS Report, China

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-06

TAIWAN New KMT Pursues Political Struggle [ HSIN HSIN WEN 6 Mar] 64 HONG KONG, MACAO Newly Elected Local Members of CPPCC Published [MING PAO 20...impartially enforcing them will it be possible to attract more foreign investors. Indeed, some foreign business people said: Today you turn your laws and...difficulties. As for the difficulties we mention here, we do not mean a difficulty in making tax pay- ments. When you encounter temporary difficulties, we

Molecular Detection of Mycobacterium avium avium and Mycobacterium genavense in Feces of Free-living Scarlet Macaws ( Ara macao) in Costa Rica.

PubMed

Patiño W, Lena C; Monge, Otto; Suzán, Gerardo; Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Gustavo; Chaves, Andrea

2018-04-01

  We conducted a study of the two main populations of free-living Scarlet Macaws ( Ara macao) in Costa Rica to detect the causal agents of avian tuberculosis using noninvasive techniques. We analyzed 83 fecal samples collected between February and May 2016 from the central and southern Pacific areas in the country. Using PCR, we first amplified the 16S region of the ribosomal RNA, common to all Mycobacterium species. Then, products from the insertion sequence IS901 and from a 155-base pair DNA fragment evidenced the presence of the avian pathogenic Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium strain and a Mycobacterium genavense strain, respectively. Seven of 38 (18%) samples collected in the central Pacific area were positive for Mycobacterium spp. and 3 of 38 (8%) were positive for M. genavense, with one sample amplifying regions for both. Two of the 45 (4%) samples collected in the south Pacific area of Costa Rica were positive to M. a. avium. Our detection of avian tuberculosis pathogens in free-living Scarlet Macaws suggests that free-living macaws could excrete in their feces M. genavense, bird-pathogenic M. a. avium, and possibly other Mycobacteria (not detected in our study).

U.S. Policy Options Toward Stopping North Korea’s Illicit Activities

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

dollars were unfrozen at Banco Delta Asia, a Macao bank investigated for facilitating North Korea’s illicit transactions. Because the “North Koreans...have said publicly that they will not comply with the bilateral agreement until the Banco Delta Asia funds are safely under their control,” the funds...12 billion accumulation of loan defaults, contributing to its inability to procure further loans on the international market .26 North Korea’s

JPRS Report Near East & South Asia, India.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-24

year, in December, it exploded its largest nuclear bomb, resulting in an earthquake-like atmosphere in Hong Kong and Macao. It has been learned that a...Widespread, Threat to Internal Security [ORGANISER 2 May] 19 Threat From China’s Nuclear , Missile Programs Analyzed [JANSATTA 19 May] 20...States has stopped aid to Pakistan since 1990, in order to show its opposition to Pakistan’s making nuclear bombs. Pakistan is facing serious

China’s Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-02

137.8 billion as of June 2007) and Macao ($2.0 billion). These entities , though part of China, are reported separately by Treasury. 10 In...Division Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour...including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports , 1215 Jefferson

China’s Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-11-20

holdings by Hong Kong (which totaled $137.8 billion as of June 2007) and Macao ($2.0 billion). These entities , though part of China, are reported ...Division Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1...including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports , 1215

China Report, Political, Sociological and Military Affairs

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-02

leading comrades of the municipal CPC committee, the municipal government, and the Shanghai Garrison Command; Zhang Yuhua , adviser to the Nanjing...Approximately 45 years of age, Hu Deping is the assistant chief of the China Museum of History and the president of the China " Cao Xuequin Research Association...34 At the tea party, he indicated to the Hong Kong and Macao reporters surrounding him that he hoped that the recently opened " Cao Xueqin Memorial

China’s Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-19

billion as of June 2007) and Macao ($2.0 billion). These entities , though part of China, are reported separately by Treasury. 11 In comparison, Japan’s...term U.S. Treasury securities (excluding nonmarketable Treasury bonds), as reported by banks, securities brokers and dealers, and other entities in the...Division Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour

Chlorinated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in riverine and estuarine sediments from Pearl River Delta, China.

PubMed

Mai, Bi-Xian; Fu, Jia-Mo; Sheng, Guo-Ying; Kang, Yue-Hui; Lin, Zheng; Zhang, Gan; Min, Yu-Shuan; Zeng, Eddy Y

2002-01-01

Spatial distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons [chlorinated pesticides (CPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)] and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was measured in riverine and estuarine sediment samples from Pearl River Delta, China, collected in 1997. Concentrations of CPs of the riverine sediment samples range from 12 to 158 ng/g, dry weight, while those of PCBs range from 11 to 486 ng/g. The CPs concentrations of the estuarine sediment samples are in the range 6-1658 ng/g, while concentrations of PCBs are in the range 10-339 ng/g. Total PAH concentration ranges from 1168 to 21,329 ng/g in the riverine sediment samples, whereas the PAH concentration ranges from 323 to 14,812 ng/g in the sediment samples of the Estuary. Sediment samples of the Zhujiang River and Macao harbor around the Estuary show the highest concentrations of CPs, PCBs, and PAHs. Possible factors affecting the distribution patterns are also discussed based on the usage history of the chemicals, hydrologic condition, and land erosion due to urbanization processes. The composition of PAHs is investigated and used to assess petrogenic, combustion and naturally derived PAHs of the sediment samples of the Pearl River Delta. In addition, the concentrations of a number of organic compounds of the Pearl River Delta samples indicate that sediments of the Zhujiang river and Macao harbor are most likely to pose biological impairment.

Relationship between Traditional Chinese Beliefs about Aetiology of Mental Disorders and Help Seeking: A Survey of the Elderly in Macao.

PubMed

Found, A

2016-03-01

A wide range of factors can influence help-seeking attitudes when individuals experience a mental disorder. The current study investigated the relationship between traditional Chinese beliefs related to the aetiology of mental disorders and help-seeking attitudes among elderly participants in Macao. In order to ensure the suitability of participants for inclusion in this study, the participants were required to complete an initial screening test using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Participants who successfully passed the test (n = 183) completed a questionnaire that included the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS), a set of 9 items related to traditional Chinese beliefs about aetiology of mental disorders and demographic items. The IASMHS scores were higher for female participants and for participants who had completed high school compared with those who had never attended school or who had only completed primary education. Endorsement of traditional Chinese beliefs about the aetiology of mental disorders was higher for male participants. There was a negative correlation between traditional Chinese aetiology beliefs related to mental disorders and help-seeking attitudes. Traditional Chinese beliefs related to the aetiology of mental disorders are a negative factor that inhibits help seeking. Implications for efforts to increase the utilisation of mental health services by the elderly are discussed.

Sustainability assessment and prioritisation of bottom ash management in Macao.

PubMed

Sou, W I; Chu, Andrea; Chiueh, P T

2016-12-01

In Macao, about 7200 t yr -1 of bottom ash (BA) is generated and conventionally landfilled with construction waste. Because the properties of BA are similar to those of natural aggregates, it is suitable to be recycled as construction material. However, pre-treatment processes for BA reuse may require more resource input and may generate additional environmental impacts. Life cycle assessment, multi-media transport model analysis, cost-benefit analysis and the analytical hierarchy process were conducted to evaluate the impacts of current and potential BA management scenarios regarding environmental, economic, social and regulatory aspects. The five analysed scenarios are as follows: (0) BA buried with construction and demolition waste (current system); (1) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of the natural aggregate in asphalt concrete; (2) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of the natural aggregate in cement concrete; (3) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of cement in cement concrete; and (4) pre-treated BA sent to China, blended with municipal solid waste for landfill. The results reveal the following ranking of the scenarios: 3 > 2 > 0 > 1 > 4. Scenario 3 shows the best conditions for BA recycling, because the quantity of cement concrete output is the highest and this brings the greatest economic benefits. Our use of integrated analysis provides multi-aspect investigations for BA management systems, particularly in accounting for site-specific characteristics. This approach is suitable for application in other non-western regions. © The Author(s) 2016.

I&W (Indications and Warning) Data Base Management Systems Analysis.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

34 NUMBER ALPHA ACTOR NUMBER ALPHA ACTOR 1 7 MAC Macao N10 TAZ Tanzania5 AG Malagasy 00 TAI Thailand 5 MAW Malawi 461 TOG Togo 2 HAL Malaysia 052 TRI...independence ’ 040 Berlin conflict 050 Sino-Soviet conflicts S0 Indonesia- Malaysia disputes 00 India-China conflicts USA-China conflicts " 090 India...41, ..4- Table 13-6 Test Series Summary Descriptions (page 5 of 19) 13-8f . .. "*- I&W DBMS ANALYSIS TEST DESCRIPTION . Test ID: F6 ScenariG ____No

Gambling in China: socio-historical evolution and current challenges.

PubMed

Wu, Anise M S; Lau, Joseph T F

2015-02-01

This paper provides an overview of gambling issues in China, including historical development, governmental responses and social consequences. Based on materials written in Chinese or English available at academic databases and other online resources, historical, cultural and policy analyses were conducted. The focus is on mainland China, but reference is made to Hong Kong and Macao to illustrate differences. Throughout Chinese history, gambling was strictly prohibited by law. In contrast, small-stakes betting for entertainment instead of monetary gain, defined as 'gaming' in this paper, has been culturally acceptable and tolerated by governments. After banning gambling for three decades, the Chinese government attempts to meet public demand for 'gaming' and to confine gambling to 'gaming' by issuing national lotteries. In response to increased economic wealth, gambling opportunities were allowed to develop, but were restricted to Macao. Social problems such as illegal and youth gambling are, however, emerging. The 'gaming' perception may predispose Chinese individuals to wagering activities and increase the risk of gambling disorder, which has been widely seen as misconduct rather than a mental disorder. Currently, the country has a dearth of gambling research and limited prevention and rehabilitation services, almost none at national level. A distinction between small-stakes 'gaming' and large-stakes 'gambling', which has cultural roots, plays an important role in relevant governmental policies and social responses in mainland China. Gambling disorder prevention and treatment is not yet on the national agenda. The country's knowledge and services gaps on gambling problems need to be filled out. © 2014 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Relationship between driver gene mutations, their relative protein expressions and survival in non-small cell lung carcinoma in Macao.

PubMed

Chan, Kin Iong; Vong, Hong Ting; Sin, Lai Fong; Yip, Yuk Ching; Zhong, Xue Yun; Wen, Jian Ming

2018-04-01

We report the status of most common gene mutations in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in Macao, and explore the relationship between each gene mutation and clinicopathologic features and survival. EGFR, KRAS and BRAF mutations were detected by PCR in 122 cases of NSCLC. ALK translocation and MET amplification were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). MET and thyroid transcription factor (TTF-1) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Clinical data were collected for analyzing their correlation with the gene mutations. The mutation of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF was detected in 48 (39.3%), 13 (10.7%) and 3 (2.5%) of 122 cases of NSCLC, respectively. ALK translocation and MET amplification were detected in 7 (5.7%) and 3 cases (2.5%). The rate of EGFR mutation was significantly higher in female and non-smoker patients. In TTF-1 positive cases EGFR mutation was more frequent. Age of the patients over 62-year old was correlated with KRAS mutations. The concordance between ALK IHC and FISH was 58.3%. The MET protein in the cases with MET amplification was 100% positive. The survival was lower in the patients with positive MET protein than those with negative. MET protein was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC. EGFR mutation occurred frequently in the female never smoke patients with NSCLC. KRAS mutation was more common in old patients. Negative MET protein expression could be used as a negative predictive marker of MET amplification. MET protein expression was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF CAPTIVE PSITTACINE SPECIES IN PRERELEASE PROGRAMS AT COSTA RICAN RESCUE CENTERS.

PubMed

Mora-Chavarría, Esteban; Umaña-Castro, Rodolfo; Abou-Madi, Noha; Solano-González, Stefany; Retamosa-Izaguirre, Mónica; Jiménez-Soto, Mauricio; Blanco-Peña, Kinndle

2017-12-01

With stricter laws regulating the capture and possession of wild animals in Costa Rica, local wildlife-rescue centers have been overwhelmed by an influx of confiscated or relinquished illegal pets, specifically of psittacine species. As part of a nationwide health-assessment program targeting these centers, 122 birds representing five psittacine species ( Ara macao, Amazona autumnalis, Amazona auropalliata, Amazona farinosa, Aratinga finschi) and one hybrid macaw ( Ara macao × Ara ambiguus) were examined and tested between January 2011 and October 2012. Physical examination, hematology, and serum biochemical analyses were performed. Blood and feathers were tested for psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV) and avian polyomavirus (APV) via PCR. A DNA-based prevalence and sequence analysis characterized the strains of PBFDV and APV isolated. Physical abnormalities observed in 36% of the 122 birds examined were limited to thin body condition and poor feather quality. None of the feather abnormalities were characteristic of disease caused by either PBFDV or APV. Results of hematological and biochemical analyses were within normal limits except for five birds with leukocytosis and heterophilia, three birds with uric acid values above 16 mg/dl, and two additional birds with AST values above 400 IU/L. No hemoparasites were detected during blood smear examination. Overall prevalences of 9.8% (12/122) for PBFDV and 3.3% (4/122) for APV were documented, with only one bird testing positive for both PBFDV and APV. Birds from two of the eight centers were negative for both viruses. Findings from this study constitute the beginning of a standardized surveillance program for Costa Rican rescue centers, targeting the management of avian species enrolled in propagation and reintroduction programs and expanding of the spectrum of pathogen surveillance and husbandry recommendations in prerelease centers.

Prevalence and associated factors of Internet gaming disorder among community dwelling adults in Macao, China.

PubMed

Wu, Anise M S; Chen, Juliet Honglei; Tong, Kwok-Kit; Yu, Shu; Lau, Joseph T F

2018-03-01

Background and aims Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been mainly studied among adolescents, and no research to date has examined its prevalence in general Chinese adult populations. This study estimated the prevalence of probable IGD in community-dwelling adults in Macao, China. Associations between IGD and psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) as well as IGD and character strength (i.e., psychological resilience and purpose in life) were also tested. Methods A random, representative sample of 1,000 Chinese residents (44% males; mean age = 40.0) was surveyed using a telephone poll design from October to November 2016. Results The estimated prevalence of probable IGD was 2.0% of the overall sample and 4.3% among the recent gamers (n = 473), with no statistically significant sex and age effects observed (p > .05). The two most prevalent IGD symptoms were mood modification and continued engagement, despite negative consequences. Probable IGD respondents were more vulnerable to psychological distress (25.0% and 45.0% for moderate or above levels of depression and anxiety, respectively) than their non-IGD counterparts. They also reported a lower level of psychological resilience than non-IGD respondents. No significant buffering effect of the two character strength variables on the distress-IGD relationship was found. Discussion and conclusions These results provide empirical evidence that IGD is a mental health threat not only to adolescents but also to adults. IGD was significantly associated with psychological distress, which should be addressed in conjunction with IGD symptoms in interventions. Inclusion of gamers of both sexes and different age groups in future prevention programs is also recommended.

Increase in Human Infections with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus During the Fifth Epidemic - China, October 2016-February 2017.

PubMed

Iuliano, A Danielle; Jang, Yunho; Jones, Joyce; Davis, C Todd; Wentworth, David E; Uyeki, Timothy M; Roguski, Katherine; Thompson, Mark G; Gubareva, Larisa; Fry, Alicia M; Burns, Erin; Trock, Susan; Zhou, Suizan; Katz, Jacqueline M; Jernigan, Daniel B

2017-03-10

During March 2013-February 24, 2017, annual epidemics of avian influenza A(H7N9) in China resulted in 1,258 avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infections in humans being reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China and other regional sources (1). During the first four epidemics, 88% of patients developed pneumonia, 68% were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 41% died (2). Candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) were developed, and vaccine was manufactured based on representative viruses detected after the emergence of A(H7N9) virus in humans in 2013. During the ongoing fifth epidemic (beginning October 1, 2016),* 460 human infections with A(H7N9) virus have been reported, including 453 in mainland China, six associated with travel to mainland China from Hong Kong (four cases), Macao (one) and Taiwan (one), and one in an asymptomatic poultry worker in Macao (1). Although the clinical characteristics and risk factors for human infections do not appear to have changed (2,3), the reported human infections during the fifth epidemic represent a significant increase compared with the first four epidemics, which resulted in 135 (first epidemic), 320 (second), 226 (third), and 119 (fourth epidemic) human infections (2). Most human infections continue to result in severe respiratory illness and have been associated with poultry exposure. Although some limited human-to-human spread continues to be identified, no sustained human-to-human A(H7N9) transmission has been observed (2,3).

A Multi-Platform Draft de novo Genome Assembly and Comparative Analysis for the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

PubMed Central

Seabury, Christopher M.; Dowd, Scot E.; Seabury, Paul M.; Raudsepp, Terje; Brightsmith, Donald J.; Liboriussen, Poul; Halley, Yvette; Fisher, Colleen A.; Owens, Elaine; Viswanathan, Ganesh; Tizard, Ian R.

2013-01-01

Data deposition to NCBI Genomes This Whole Genome Shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession AMXX00000000 (SMACv1.0, unscaffolded genome assembly). The version described in this paper is the first version (AMXX01000000). The scaffolded assembly (SMACv1.1) has been deposited at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession AOUJ00000000, and is also the first version (AOUJ01000000). Strong biological interest in traits such as the acquisition and utilization of speech, cognitive abilities, and longevity catalyzed the utilization of two next-generation sequencing platforms to provide the first-draft de novo genome assembly for the large, new world parrot Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw). Despite the challenges associated with genome assembly for an outbred avian species, including 951,507 high-quality putative single nucleotide polymorphisms, the final genome assembly (>1.035 Gb) includes more than 997 Mb of unambiguous sequence data (excluding N’s). Cytogenetic analyses including ZooFISH revealed complex rearrangements associated with two scarlet macaw macrochromosomes (AMA6, AMA7), which supports the hypothesis that translocations, fusions, and intragenomic rearrangements are key factors associated with karyotype evolution among parrots. In silico annotation of the scarlet macaw genome provided robust evidence for 14,405 nuclear gene annotation models, their predicted transcripts and proteins, and a complete mitochondrial genome. Comparative analyses involving the scarlet macaw, chicken, and zebra finch genomes revealed high levels of nucleotide-based conservation as well as evidence for overall genome stability among the three highly divergent species. Application of a new whole-genome analysis of divergence involving all three species yielded prioritized candidate genes and noncoding regions for parrot traits of interest (i.e., speech, intelligence, longevity) which were independently supported by the results of previous human GWAS studies. We also observed evidence for genes and noncoding loci that displayed extreme conservation across the three avian lineages, thereby reflecting their likely biological and developmental importance among birds. PMID:23667475

The Reflection on the Domestic Research Status of Language Learning Strategies Used by Foreign Students Learning Chinese

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Min, M. A.

Learning strategy is a psychological concept influenced by cognitive theory. It is a hot spot in the field of second language acquisition. This article analyses the research findings on Chinese learning strategies published by the domestic publications over the past ten years. The article introduces research achievements in the field of Chinese learning strategies, summarizes the research characteristic, and points out the shortcomings of the researches in three ways: the type of the research findings, research teams and research objects. The article suggests the researchers should enhance team cooperation, communicate with the researchers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, establish the better academic platform and focus on the contrastive research on Chinese learner from different backgrounds.

International CJMT-1 Workshop on Asteroidal Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ip, Wing-Huen

2014-03-01

An international workshop on asteroidal science was held between October 16 and 17, 2012, at the Macau University of Science and Technology gathering together experts on asteroidal study in China, Japan, Macao and Taiwan. For this reason, we have called it CJMT-1 Workshop. Though small in sizes, the asteroids orbiting mainly between the orbit of Mars and of Jupiter have important influence on the evolution of the planetary bodies. Topics ranging from killer asteroids to space resources are frequently mentioned in news reports with prominence similar to the search for water on Mars. This also means that the study of asteroids is very useful in exciting the imagination and interest in science of the general public. Several Asian countries have therefore developed long-term programs integrating ground-based observations and space exploration with Japan being the most advanced and ambitious as demonstrated by the very successful Hayabusa mission to asteroid 25143 Itokawa. In this volume we will find descriptions of the mission planning of Hayabusa II to the C-type near-Earth asteroid, 1999 JU3. Not to be outdone, China's Chang-E 2 spacecraft was re-routed to a flyby encounter with asteroid 4179 Toutatis in December 2012. It is planned that in the next CJMT workshop, we will have the opportunity to learn more about the in-depth data analysis of the Toutatis observations and the progress reports on the Hayabusa II mission which launch date is set to be July 2014. Last but not least, the presentations on the ground-based facilities as described in this volume will pave the way for coordinated observations of asteroidal families and Trojan asteroids - across Asia from Taiwan to Uzbekistan. Such international projects will serve as an important symbol of good will and peaceful cooperation among the key members of this group. Finally, I want to thank the Space Science Institute, Macao University of Science and Technology, for generous support, and its staff members, especially, Eason Gu and Tom Lin, for their kind assistance in the organization of the workshop and the editing of the Proceedings volume.

Betting Decision Under Break-Streak Pattern: Evidence from Casino Gaming.

PubMed

Fong, Lawrence Hoc Nang; So, Amy Siu Ian; Law, Rob

2016-03-01

Cognitive bias is prevalent among gamblers, especially those with gambling problems. Grounded in the heuristics theories, this study contributes to the literature by examining a cognitive bias triggered by the break streak pattern in the casino setting. We postulate that gamblers tend to bet on the latest outcome when there is a break-streak pattern. Moreover, three determinants of the betting decision under break-streak pattern, including the streak length of the alternative outcome, the frequency of the latest outcome, and gender, were identified and examined in this study. A non-participatory observational study was conducted among the Cussec gamblers in a casino in Macao. An analysis of 1229 bets confirms our postulation, particularly when the streak of the alternative outcome is long, the latest outcome is frequent, and the gamblers are females. The findings provide meaningful implications for casino management and public policymakers regarding the minimization of gambling harm.

[Distribution and origin of plastic resin pellets as environmental pollutants at the East China Sea area].

PubMed

Kaminuma, T; Ohtake, C; Kabuyama, N

2000-01-01

Plastic debris are important marine pollutants. Plastic debris consist of resin pellets and waste plastics. We are particularly interested in resin pellets. We made field survey of resin pellets at nearly 400 sites in 200 beaches in Japan and neighboring countries. The pellets were found at all most all Japan coasts we surveyed and at some beaches of Macao, Hong Kong, Xiamen, the north of Taipei, and Cheju Island in Korea. The number of pellets was more than 1000 pieces per m2 on the most abundant beach in Japan. Through further analysis using GC/ECD, endocrine disrupting chemicals, PCBs, DDTs, HCHs and Nonylphenol were detected in selected samples. Biota such as Bryozoa were observed on the surface of pellets washed up on the beaches in subtropical areas. Pellets has been suspected to affect wildlife and human health, but we have no report on affection to human.

Philornis sp. bot fly larvae in free living scarlet macaw nestlings and a new technique for their extraction.

PubMed

Olah, George; Vigo, Gabriela; Ortiz, Lizzie; Rozsa, Lajos; Brightsmith, Donald J

2013-09-01

Bot fly larvae (Philornis genus) are obligate subcutaneous blood-feeding parasites of Neotropical birds including psittacines. We analyze twelve years of data on scarlet macaw (Ara macao) nestlings in natural and artificial nests in the lowland forests of southeastern Peru and report prevalence and intensity of Philornis parasitism. Bot fly prevalence was 28.9% while mean intensity was 5.0 larvae per infected chick. Prevalence in natural nests (11%, N=90 nestlings) was lower than in wooden nest-boxes (39%, N=57) and PVC boxes (39%, N=109). We describe a new technique of removing Philornis larvae using a reverse syringe design snake bite extractor. We compare this new technique to two other methods for removing bots from macaw chicks and find the new method the most suitable. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Disordered gambling among Chinese casino employees.

PubMed

Wu, Anise M S; Wong, Eva M W

2008-06-01

A previous study suggests that casino employees are at higher risk for disordered gambling than non-casino employees. The present study examined the cognitive correlates of the gambling involvement of Chinese casino employees. These potential cognitive correlates included attitudes toward the gaming industry and gambling activities, perceived job meaningfulness, and job stress. One hundred and nineteen Chinese respondents (M = 57; F = 62) working as dealers in Macao casinos were recruited through convenience sampling to fill out a questionnaire. The results revealed that about 7% of the respondents scored 10 or more on the South Oaks Gambling Screen and engaged in disordered gambling. Path analysis showed that attitude toward the gaming industry had a positive impact on job meaningfulness, which largely explained variances of job stress among casino employees. Job stress had a significant, but weak, direct impact on disordered gambling. Though causality between variables cannot be confirmed, this study provided insights into the impacts of cognitive factors on gambling involvement among Chinese front-line employees in the gaming industry. Implications of the findings were also discussed.

[Survey of alkylphenols in aquatic environment of Zhujiang Delta].

PubMed

Duan, Jing-chun; Chen, Bing; Mai, Bi-xian; Yang, Qing-shu; Sheng, Guo-ying; Fu, Jia-mo

2004-05-01

The summer contamination of dissolved nonylphenols (NPs) and octylphenol (OP) in surface water of Zhujiang estuary and other rivers of Zhujiang Delta was analyzed. The result reveals that NPs concentration in The Pearl River remains < 20-40 ng/L, apart from the NPs concentrations of the mouth of The Pingzhou Channel the mouth of The Shawan Channel and Hutiaomen reaching a higher level of 98.84, 129.82 and 164.98 ng/L respectively. The Lingding Sea and open sea surface water keep at a lower level with the NPs concentration of < 10-14 ng/L. In terms of OP concentration in The Pearl River, any other sampling location is below LOD 2 ng/L, except for Baiertan, the mouth of The Shawan Channel and Hutiaomen being 2.89, 2.44, 2.12 ng/L respectively and inside Macao harbor being the highest level of 8.54 ng/L. The OP concentrations of The Lingding Sea and open sea surface water are lower than LOD 1 ng/L.

Silent geographical spread of the H7N9 virus by online knowledge analysis of the live bird trade with a distributed focused crawler

PubMed Central

Chen, Chen; Lu, Shan; Du, Pengcheng; Wang, Haiyin; Yu, Weiwen; Song, Huawen; Xu, Jianguo

2013-01-01

Unlike those infected by H5N1, birds infected by the newly discovered H7N9 virus have no observable clinical symptoms. Public health workers in China do not know where the public health threat lies. In this study, we used a distributed focused crawler to analyze online knowledge of the live bird trade in first-wave provinces, namely, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shanghai, to track the new H7N9 virus and predict its spread. Of the 18 provinces proposed to be at high risk of infection, 10 reported human infections and one had poultry specimens that tested positive. Five provinces (Xinjiang, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Tibet) as well as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan were proposed to have no risk of H7N9 virus infection from the live bird trade. These data can help health authorities and the public to respond rapidly to reduce damage related to the spread of the virus. PMID:26038450

Standard formatted data units-control authority operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

The purpose of this document is to illustrate a Control Authority's (CA) possible operation. The document is an interpretation and expansion of the concept found in the CA Procedures Recommendation. The CA is described in terms of the functions it performs for the management and control of data descriptions (metadata). Functions pertaining to the organization of Member Agency Control Authority Offices (MACAOs) (e.g., creating and disbanding) are not discussed. The document also provides an illustrative operational view of a CA through scenarios describing interaction between those roles involved in collecting, controlling, and accessing registered metadata. The roles interacting with the CA are identified by their actions in requesting and responding to requests for metadata, and by the type of information exchanged. The scenarios and examples presented in this document are illustrative only. They represent possible interactions supported by either a manual or automated system. These scenarios identify requirements for an automated system. These requirements are expressed by identifying the information to be exchanged and the services that may be provided by a CA for that exchange.

The Cantonese connection.

PubMed

Rose, P I

1986-01-01

Thousands of ethnic Chinese escaped from the Northern part of reunited Viet Nam during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Most were "boat people" who hoped to make it safely to Hong Kong or Macao. Owing to difficulties on board or unfavorable winds, some got no farther than Hainan Island or were forced to land on the People's Republic of China's (PRC) coast. Even for those who had strong cultural ties to, if not political sympathies with, the people of China, life in the PRC is not easy and adaptation to the regimentation of the socialist state is especially hard for those coming from lands where they had lived quite apart from the main stream of their society. Bonafide refugees bound for America are treated differently from other potential migrants, including those basing their claim to acceptance on family reunion. 2 family reunion cases are discussed. The difference between the 2 cases is that the 1st would receive assistance from societal institutions specifically geared to working with refugees; the 2nd would have to depend on the promised support of family members.

[Burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attributable to ambient ozone pollution in 1990 and 2013 in China].

PubMed

Cui, J; Yin, P; Wang, L J; Liu, S W; Li, Y C; Liu, Y N; Liu, J M; You, J L; Zeng, X Y; Zhou, M G

2016-05-01

To investigate the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China attributable to ambient ozone pollution in 1990 and 2013. Based on the results of the China Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2013, the population attributable fractions was used to analyze the deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of COPD attributable to ambient ozone pollution in all provinces (not including Taiwan, China) in 1990 and 2013, and to compare changes of the attributable disease burden in 1990 and 2013. In 2013, 7.4% (95% uncertainty interval (95% UI): 6.1%-8.6%) of COPD were attributable to ambient ozone pollution, with the highest rate in Hebei province (15.0%, 95%UI: 12.0%-18.7%) and the lowest in Heilongjiang province (2.8%,95%UI: 0.9%-5.3%). In 2013, 67 485 COPD deaths in China were due to ambient ozone pollution, with the highest number in Sichuan province (11 929) and in China lowest in Macao (11). A total of 1.168 million DALYs caused by COPD were due to ambient ozone pollution, with the highest in Sichuan province (0.189 million) and lowest in Macao (257.4). In 2013, the DALY per 100 000 population caused by COPD due to ambient ozone pollution after age standardization was lowest in Heilongjiang province (21.9), Shanghai (26.7), Beijing (38.4), Tianjin (39.3), and Jilin province (39.7) and highest in Sichuan province (206.4), Qinghai province (202.5), Guizhou province (175.3), and Gansu province (171.4). DALYs caused by COPD attributable to ambient ozone pollution increased with age (0.144 million person years for ages 15-49 years, 0.43 million person years for age 50-69 years and 0.594 million person years for age 70 years and above), which were higher in men than in women (0.708 million person years for men and 0.459 million person years for women in 2013). Deaths of COPD attributable to ambient ozone pollution were 49 514 and 67 485 in 1990 and 2013, respectively. DALYs caused by COPD attributable to ozone pollution totaled 0.894 million and 1.168 million person years in 1990 and 2013, respectively. Ambient ozone pollution-related deaths and DALYs increased 36.3% and 30.6%, respectively. Compared with 1990, the disease burden of COPD in 2013 attributed to ambient ozone pollution in China increased substantially. Ambient ozone pollution caused great losses among Chinese residents. More attention should be directed toward western provinces with a particularly high disease burden due to ambient ozone pollution.

Fragmentation of urban forms and the environmental consequences: results from a high-spatial resolution model system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, U. W.; Wang, Z. S.

2008-10-01

Each city has its unique urban form. The importance of urban form on sustainable development has been recognized in recent years. Traditionally, air quality modelling in a city is in a mesoscale with grid resolution of kilometers, regardless of its urban form. This paper introduces a GIS-based air quality and noise model system developed to study the built environment of highly compact urban forms. Compared with traditional mesoscale air quality model system, the present model system has a higher spatial resolution down to individual buildings along both sides of the street. Applying the developed model system in the Macao Peninsula with highly compact urban forms, the average spatial resolution of input and output data is as high as 174 receptor points per km2. Based on this input/output dataset with a high spatial resolution, this study shows that even the highly compact urban forms can be fragmented into a very small geographic scale of less than 3 km2. This is due to the significant temporal variation of urban development. The variation of urban form in each fragment in turn affects air dispersion, traffic condition, and thus air quality and noise in a measurable scale.

Instructional practices and science performance of 10 top-performing regions in PISA 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, Kwok-chi; Lam, Terence Yuk-ping

2017-10-01

This study analysed 10 top-performing regions in PISA 2015 on their science performances and instructional practices. The regions include Singapore, Japan, Estonia, Taipei, Finland, Macao, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Korea. The science performances of the 10 regions and their teaching practices are described and compared. The construct of enquiry-based instruction as developed in PISA 2015 is revised into two new constructs using factor analysis. Then, the relationships of the teaching practices with science performance are analysed using hierarchical linear modelling. Adaptive instruction, teacher-directed instruction and interactive application are found positively associated with performance in all regions, while investigation and perceived feedback are all negative. The regions except Japan and Korea tend to have a high frequency of teacher-directed instruction facilitated by more or less authoritative class discussion in class. A fair amount of practical work is done, but not many of them are investigations. The cultural influences on teaching practices are discussed on how an amalgam of didactic and constructivist pedagogy is created by the Western progressive educational philosophy meeting the Confucian culture. The reasons for investigation's negative association with performance are also explored.

[News on the trip and the diplomatic mission of a Portuguese ambassador to China in 1752. Critical and analytical study].

PubMed

José, J; Frada, C

1994-11-01

The author of this report has worked out a critical-analytical study, based on the news of a voyage to China, carried out by a Portuguese ambassador, which was also a diplomatic mission, in 1752, during the Marquis of Pombal era, Prime Minister of king Dom Jose I. This study is directed under two perspectives: medical and historical-diplomatic. The former not only allows the assessment of the high degree of organization of this voyage as far as food supplies and medical support are concerned, but it also shows the reflection and the diagnosis correction of tuberculosis of the lungs, in a seaman, carried out by a surgeon on board, which we totally refute. The latter, which only aims at giving some further data for the study of the Portuguese Diplomatic History, let us know some of the complex procedures and protocols established between our diplomatic representative and the high Chinese rulers, both the Emperor himself and the mandarins. Contrary to other previous attempts of diplomatic, economic and social relations, either partially or totally frustrated, this mission constituted a great success for Portugal and may, indeed, be considered as a decisive step for the recognition of Portuguese sovereignty over the territory of Macao and its dependencies in 1887.

Early procurement of scarlet macaws and the emergence of social complexity in Chaco Canyon, NM.

PubMed

Watson, Adam S; Plog, Stephen; Culleton, Brendan J; Gilman, Patricia A; LeBlanc, Steven A; Whiteley, Peter M; Claramunt, Santiago; Kennett, Douglas J

2015-07-07

High-precision accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) (14)C dates of scarlet macaw (Ara macao) skeletal remains provide the first direct evidence from Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico that these Neotropical birds were procured from Mesoamerica by Pueblo people as early as ∼ A.D. 900-975. Chaco was a prominent prehistoric Pueblo center with a dense concentration of multistoried great houses constructed from the 9th through early 12th centuries. At the best known great house of Pueblo Bonito, unusual burial crypts and significant quantities of exotic and symbolically important materials, including scarlet macaws, turquoise, marine shell, and cacao, suggest societal complexity unprecedented elsewhere in the Puebloan world. Scarlet macaws are known markers of social and political status among the Pueblos. New AMS (14)C-dated scarlet macaw remains from Pueblo Bonito demonstrate that these birds were acquired persistently from Mesoamerica between A.D. 900 and 1150. Most of the macaws date before the hypothesized apogeal Chacoan period (A.D. 1040-1110) to which they are commonly attributed. The 10th century acquisition of these birds is consistent with the hypothesis that more formalized status hierarchies developed with significant connections to Mesoamerica before the post-A.D. 1040 architectural florescence in Chaco Canyon.

[Analysis of epidemiological and genetic characteristics of rubella viruses in China from 2007 to 2008].

PubMed

Zhu, Zhen; Guo, Xue-bin; Cui, Ai-li

2009-06-01

To understand the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of rubella viruses in China (excluded Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan areas, the same below) from 2007 to 2008, and to provide the basis for the development of rubella immunization strategy. Both rubella epidemiology data from rubella disease surveillance information management system and rubella virology data from National measles Laboratory surveillance data base were analyzed. The reported rubella incidence rate was 5.70/100,000 in 2007 and 9.11/100,000 in 2008 and the reported cases distributed in the whole country. The predominant proportions of rubella cases were <15-years-old children which accounted for 80.94% and 81.85% of total cases in 2007 and 2008 respectively. And the highest number of cases belong to 6-10 age groups, which accounted for 43.24% and 44.13% of total cases in 2007 and 2008 respectively. 1E genotype was the predominant genotype of rubella viruses in China during 2007-2008, and the nucleotide homology of the rubella isolates was 98.1%-100%. The rubella Serology diagnosis, virological and serological surveillance should be strengthened. Practicable vaccine immunization strategy for different age groups should be established to achieve the goal of prevention and control of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome.

Early procurement of scarlet macaws and the emergence of social complexity in Chaco Canyon, NM

PubMed Central

Watson, Adam S.; Plog, Stephen; Culleton, Brendan J.; Gilman, Patricia A.; LeBlanc, Steven A.; Whiteley, Peter M.; Claramunt, Santiago; Kennett, Douglas J.

2015-01-01

High-precision accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) 14C dates of scarlet macaw (Ara macao) skeletal remains provide the first direct evidence from Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico that these Neotropical birds were procured from Mesoamerica by Pueblo people as early as ∼A.D. 900–975. Chaco was a prominent prehistoric Pueblo center with a dense concentration of multistoried great houses constructed from the 9th through early 12th centuries. At the best known great house of Pueblo Bonito, unusual burial crypts and significant quantities of exotic and symbolically important materials, including scarlet macaws, turquoise, marine shell, and cacao, suggest societal complexity unprecedented elsewhere in the Puebloan world. Scarlet macaws are known markers of social and political status among the Pueblos. New AMS 14C-dated scarlet macaw remains from Pueblo Bonito demonstrate that these birds were acquired persistently from Mesoamerica between A.D. 900 and 1150. Most of the macaws date before the hypothesized apogeal Chacoan period (A.D. 1040–1110) to which they are commonly attributed. The 10th century acquisition of these birds is consistent with the hypothesis that more formalized status hierarchies developed with significant connections to Mesoamerica before the post-A.D. 1040 architectural florescence in Chaco Canyon. PMID:26100874

Wind Tunnel Measurements for Flutter of a Long-Afterbody Bridge Deck

PubMed Central

Chen, Zeng-Shun; Zhang, Cheng; Wang, Xu; Ma, Cun-Ming

2017-01-01

Bridges are an important component of transportation. Flutter is a self-excited, large amplitude vibration, which may lead to collapse of bridges. It must be understood and avoided. This paper takes the Jianghai Channel Bridge, which is a significant part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as an example to investigate the flutter of the bridge deck. Firstly, aerodynamic force models for flutter of bridges were introduced. Then, wind tunnel tests of the bridge deck during the construction and the operation stages, under different wind attack angles and wind velocities, were carried out using a high frequency base balance (HFBB) system and laser displacement sensors. From the tests, the static aerodynamic forces and flutter derivatives of the bridge deck were observed. Correspondingly, the critical flutter wind speeds of the bridge deck were determined based on the derivatives, and they are compared with the directly measured flutter speeds. Results show that the observed derivatives are reasonable and applicable. Furthermore, the critical wind speeds in the operation stage is smaller than those in the construction stage. Besides, the flutter instabilities of the bridge in the construction and the operation stages are good. This study helps guarantee the design and the construction of the Jianghai Channel Bridge, and advances the understanding of flutter of long afterbody bridge decks. PMID:28208773

Wind Tunnel Measurements for Flutter of a Long-Afterbody Bridge Deck.

PubMed

Chen, Zeng-Shun; Zhang, Cheng; Wang, Xu; Ma, Cun-Ming

2017-02-09

Bridges are an important component of transportation. Flutter is a self-excited, large amplitude vibration, which may lead to collapse of bridges. It must be understood and avoided. This paper takes the Jianghai Channel Bridge, which is a significant part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as an example to investigate the flutter of the bridge deck. Firstly, aerodynamic force models for flutter of bridges were introduced. Then, wind tunnel tests of the bridge deck during the construction and the operation stages, under different wind attack angles and wind velocities, were carried out using a high frequency base balance (HFBB) system and laser displacement sensors. From the tests, the static aerodynamic forces and flutter derivatives of the bridge deck were observed. Correspondingly, the critical flutter wind speeds of the bridge deck were determined based on the derivatives, and they are compared with the directly measured flutter speeds. Results show that the observed derivatives are reasonable and applicable. Furthermore, the critical wind speeds in the operation stage is smaller than those in the construction stage. Besides, the flutter instabilities of the bridge in the construction and the operation stages are good. This study helps guarantee the design and the construction of the Jianghai Channel Bridge, and advances the understanding of flutter of long afterbody bridge decks.

"We want the world and we want it now": Materialism, time perspectives and problem spending tendency of Chinese.

PubMed

Ku, Lisbeth; Wu, Anise M S; Lao, Angie K P; Lam, Kerwin I N

2016-10-06

Chinese consumers' spending has been expanding rapidly in the past decade, and along with it household and credit card debt. The present research collected evidence to triangulate the contention that materialism is positively related with Chinese's problem spending tendency (PST), and that present-time-perspective (PTP) and future-time perspectives (FTP) interact systematically with materialism to affect PST. A survey of the general population in Macao, China (Study 1; N = 239) confirmed that materialism was positively correlated with PST. An interaction between materialism and PTP intensified the relationship, whereas an interaction with FTP weakened the relationship. Another survey with a sample of university students (Study 2; N = 223) again found positive relationships among PST, materialism, and PTP, as measured by temporal discount rate. But further exploration showed that PST was only related with temporal discounting among high materialists, but not among low materialists. Study 3 experimentally examined the causal effects of materialism and FTP on PST. When being primed of an orientation towards materialism (n = 33), the participants' planned consumption doubled that of the control group (n = 31). A FTP prime interacted with materialism prime and put a "damper" on participants' planned spending (n = 29), compared to their counterparts who were not primed of such a time perspective. © 2016 International Union of Psychological Science.

Research on the Direct Carbon Emission Forecast of CHINA'S Provincial Residents Based on Neural Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, T.; Zhou, B.; Zhou, S.; Yan, W.

2018-04-01

Global climate change, which mainly effected by human carbon emissions, would affect the regional economic, natural ecological environment, social development and food security in the near future. It's particularly important to make accurate predictions of carbon emissions based on current carbon emissions. This paper accounted out the direct consumption of carbon emissions data from 1995 to 2014 about 30 provinces (the data of Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan is missing) and the whole of China. And it selected the optimal models from BP, RBF and Elman neural network for direct carbon emission prediction, what aim was to select the optimal prediction method and explore the possibility of reaching the peak of residents direct carbon emissions of China in 2030. Research shows that: 1) Residents' direct carbon emissions per capita of all provinces showed an upward trend in 20 years. 2) The accuracy of the prediction results by Elman neural network model is higher than others and more suitable for carbon emission data projections. 3) With the situation of residents' direct carbon emissions free development, the direct carbon emissions will show a fast to slow upward trend in the next few years and began to flatten after 2020, and the direct carbon emissions of per capita will reach the peak in 2032. This is also confirmed that China is expected to reach its peak in carbon emissions by 2030 in theory.

[Circulating pattern analysis for endemic measles viruses in mainland of China].

PubMed

Zhang, Yan; Ji, Yi-Xin; Zhu, Zhen

2009-04-01

To analysis of the circulating pattern for endemic measles viruses in mainland of China (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were excluded) between 1993 and 2006. To analyze the database of Measles laboratory network surveillance, and the database of virology surveillance of National laboratory for Measles in Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC). Total 748 positive measles isolates were available from 29 provinces of China. 743 were H1 genotypes, 1 was H2 genotype, 1 was A genotype and 3 were vaccine like A genotypes. Among H1 genotype, 684 were H1a subgenotypes, 50 were H1b subgenotypes, 9 were H1c subgenotypes. H1a was isolated from 29 provinces (Tibet and Hubei did not carry out virus isolation), H1b was isolated from 10 provinces, H1c was isolated from 4 provinces during 1993-1994. H1a became predominant subgenotype since 2000; H1b shrink annually, its circulating has been interrupted since 2006; H1c circulating has been interrupted since 1995. Molecular epidemiology of measles viruses between 1993 and 2006 showed the character of genetic variation and the geographic distribution of the measles viruses in different years, and revealed that genotype H1 was the predominant indigenous measles virus genotype in mainland China and H1a became the predominant subgenotype in recent years.

[Progress of childhood immunization information management system in China in 2008].

PubMed

Cao, Ling-Sheng; Liu, Da-Wei; Guo, Biao

2009-08-01

To evaluate the coverage of childhood immunization information management system (CIIMS) in China (not include HongKong, Macao, and Taiwan) in 2008. Analyzing immunization cases and users' file record archives in CIIMS for china in 2008. These data indicated that 87.10% (27/31) of provinces and 30.36% (891/2935) of county level and 26.63% (11,512/43,231) of vaccination points of township level submitted immunization data to an CIIMS in 2008. The rate of implementation of the county > or = 90% are Fujian and Hubei. The rate of implementation of the township > or = 90% are Hubei, Fujian and Hebei. Coverage of eastern areas, middle areas and western areas were 28.91%, 43.20%, and 18.41% by county, 26.15%, 37.69%, and 16.44% by township respectively. The upload permissions against cases is in a total of 15,014 units, and the client software collect a total of 42,956,214 cases of immunization. 44.46% chinese children aged < 6 years old participated in an CIIMS in 2008. The vaccination point of township level submitted 8,793,334 cases to CIIMS, it accounted for 20.47% of client collection cases. To achieve the national CIIMS objectives for 2010, the extensive implementation must be promoted, the funding for system-building should be increased, an independent platform of CIIMS must be established, and admission of the issue of data exchange with the local information systems must be accelerated.

A comparative study of the mobile population in Wuhan and other major cities.

PubMed

Zeng, Y

1997-01-01

This study examined population mobility among residents of 5 cities in China: Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Data were obtained from the 1995 Sample Survey of 1% of Wuhan Population and provincial Statistical Yearbooks. The total mobile population in China has increased from 20-80 million during 1982-95. Shanghai is the largest Chinese city. Beijing has a large proportion of international and internal migrants. Guangzhou is a capital city that was the first to adopt economic reforms. Migration fueled development in Shenzhen. A larger mobile population was related to larger population density. The mobile population was 20% in all cities, 30% of central city population, and 140.5% of the central city of Shenzhen. Beijing and Shanghai had the highest growth rates. Construction accounts for the largest percentage of business-related mobile population in Wuhan, Beijing, and Shanghai. Manufacturing accounts for the largest percentage in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Most of the mobile population in capital cities such as Wuhan and Guangzhou, originates from within the provinces. The largest percentage of mobile population in Beijing and Shanghai come from adjacent provinces. Guangzhou receives many migrants from adjacent Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. 47.8-78.8% of mobile population were farmers. More migrants are men. Educational levels are low. The mobile population contributes to industry and informational/cultural exchange. The migrants detract from urban areas in population pressure on housing and services, shortages of employment, illegal activities and crime, and unplanned births.

Integrative review of international nursing research in Mainland China.

PubMed

Li, M; Wei, L; Liu, H; Tang, L

2009-03-01

Nursing research in Mainland China is divided into two parts: domestic nursing research, comprising all publications in Chinese; and international nursing research, comprising all publications in English. Domestic nursing research has been developing rapidly, demonstrated by the increase in new national or regional journals and publications. However, little is known about the extent of international research. To outline the development of international nursing research publications in Mainland China and to provide suggestions for future development. All of the papers were retrieved from PubMed. The key search phase was 'China or P.R.China NOT Hong Kong NOT Taiwan NOT Macao [AD]', with the limits of 'English', 'nursing journals' as well as the published date up to '2007/09/30'. PubMed recorded 57 English papers that were originally conducted in Mainland China during the search period from 1989 to 30 September 2007. Thirty-seven of the total 57 (65%) publications were contributed by Beijing, Shanghai and Hubei. Forty-four of the 57 publications were conducted with collaborators from Hong Kong, the USA, the UK and Canada. Thirteen publications were funded by international societies, while only three were funded by the Chinese government. The research topics mainly focused on clinical research, nursing education and nursing management. This study indicates that international nursing research has been growing slowly in Mainland China along with provincial variations. The suggestions to improve nursing research include the reform of nursing education, the enhancement of the collaboration with the international societies and the establishment of research priorities.

The First Telescope in the Korean History I. Translation of Jeong's Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Sang-Hyeon

2009-06-01

In 1631 A.D. Jeong Duwon, an ambassador of the Joseon dynasty was sent to the Ming dynasty. There he met João Rodrigues, a Jesuit missionary, in Dengzhou of Shandong peninsula. The missionary gave the ambassador a number of results of latest European innovations. A detailed description on this event was written in `Jeong's official report regarding a message from an European country' () which is an important literature work to understand the event. Since the document was written in classical Chinese, we make a comprehensive translation to Korean with detailed notes. According to the report, the items that Rodrigues presented include four books written in Chinese that describe European discoveries about the world, a report on the tribute of new cannons manufactured by Portuguese in Macao, a telescope, a flintlock, a Foliot-type mechanical clock, a world atlas drawn by Matteo Ricci, an astronomical planisphere, and a sun-dial. We discuss the meaning of each item in the Korean history of science and technology. In particular, Jeong's introduction is an important event in the history of Korean astronomy, because the telescope he brought was the first one to be introduced in Korean history. Even though king Injo and his associates of the Joseon dynasty were well aware of the value as military armaments of new technologies such as telescopes, cannons, and flintlocks, they were not able to quickly adopt such technologies to defend against the military threat of Jurchen. We revisit the reason in view of the general history of science and technology of east-Asian countries in the 17th century.

Probability-based classifications for spatially characterizing the water temperatures and discharge rates of hot springs in the Tatun Volcanic Region, Taiwan.

PubMed

Jang, Cheng-Shin

2015-05-01

Accurately classifying the spatial features of the water temperatures and discharge rates of hot springs is crucial for environmental resources use and management. This study spatially characterized classifications of the water temperatures and discharge rates of hot springs in the Tatun Volcanic Region of Northern Taiwan by using indicator kriging (IK). The water temperatures and discharge rates of the springs were first assigned to high, moderate, and low categories according to the two thresholds of the proposed spring classification criteria. IK was then used to model the occurrence probabilities of the water temperatures and discharge rates of the springs and probabilistically determine their categories. Finally, nine combinations were acquired from the probability-based classifications for the spatial features of the water temperatures and discharge rates of the springs. Moreover, various combinations of spring water features were examined according to seven subzones of spring use in the study region. The research results reveal that probability-based classifications using IK provide practicable insights related to propagating the uncertainty of classifications according to the spatial features of the water temperatures and discharge rates of the springs. The springs in the Beitou (BT), Xingyi Road (XYR), Zhongshanlou (ZSL), and Lengshuikeng (LSK) subzones are suitable for supplying tourism hotels with a sufficient quantity of spring water because they have high or moderate discharge rates. Furthermore, natural hot springs in riverbeds and valleys should be developed in the Dingbeitou (DBT), ZSL, Xiayoukeng (XYK), and Macao (MC) subzones because of low discharge rates and low or moderate water temperatures.

Fear of intimacy with helping professionals and its impact on elderly Chinese.

PubMed

Lau, Ying; Chow, Aloysius; Chan, Sally; Wang, Wenru

2014-04-01

The present study aimed to investigate the attitudes of Chinese older adults toward seeking help from healthcare professionals, and its impact on their self-care ability and medication adherence. A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey was carried out. A convenience sample of 301 older adults was recruited from six health centers in Macao, People's Republic of China. The Chinese versions of Fear of Intimacy with Helping Professionals (C-FIHP), Exercise of Self-care Agency (C-ESCA) and Morisky 4-Item Self-Report Measure of Medication-Taking Behavior (C-MMAS) were used to measure the study variables. Chinese older adults who were married and had comorbidity with arthritis showed significantly negative attitudes toward seeking help form healthcare professional than those who were not married (P < 0.05) and did not have arthritis (P < 0.01). There are significant negative correlations between C-FIHP with C-ESCA (P < 0.01) and C-MMAS-4 (P < 0.01). Regression analysis identified three predicative factors of fear of intimacy with helping professionals: marital status, comorbidity with arthritis and self-care agency, which accounted for 23.9% of variance. The present study suggests that Chinese older adults' fear of intimacy with helping professionals impacts their perceived self-care ability and medication adherence. The three predictive factors identified in the present study might provide useful pointers for healthcare professionals to customize an effective approach to encourage and engage older adults. This might improve the self-care ability and medication adherence of older adults, which will result in a better quality of life and psychosocial well-being. © 2013 Japan Geriatrics Society.

[Epidemic profile of mumps in China during 2004-2013].

PubMed

Su, Q R; Liu, J; Ma, C; Fan, C X; Wen, N; Luo, H M; Wang, H Q; Li, L; Hao, L X

2016-07-06

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in China from 2004 to 2013. Data of mump cases occurring between 2004 and 2013 were gathered from the national notifiable disease reporting system in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan); only cases classified as "final card" , laboratory confirmed, or clinical diagnosis were included. Descriptive epidemiology techniques were used to analyze features of sex, age, trends over time, and geography. Average incidence of mumps between 2004 to 2013 was 24.20/100 000. Peaks were in 2011 and 2012, with incidence 33.9/100 000 (454 385/1.340 million) and 35.6/100 000 (479 518/1.347 million). Two seasonal peaks occurred regularly in years, one from April to July in the first year, and the other from November to January in the next year. During the study period, provinces with the highest incidence were Ningxia, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Guangxi; incidences were 72.1/100 000 (4 425/6.13 million), 48.5/100 000 (1 396/3 million), 51.7/100 000 (10 887/21.04 million), and 40.8/100 000 (19 179/46.99 million), respectively. Guangdong (28 078), Sichuan (21 924), Guangxi (21 616), and Zhejiang (20 000) provinces reported the highest number of mumps cases. Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai showed a consistently low incidence. Mumps cases occurred primarily among children aged 5-9 years, with incidence ranging from 118.2/100 000 to 281.4/100 000. In 2004-2008, the peak age was 6-8 years (174.1/100 000) and in 2009-2013, peak age was 5-7 years (234.5/100 000). The highest incidences of mumps in China were reported in 2011 and 2012, with children of school age constituting the majority of cases.

Tsunamis: Global Exposure and Local Risk Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harbitz, C. B.; Løvholt, F.; Glimsdal, S.; Horspool, N.; Griffin, J.; Davies, G.; Frauenfelder, R.

2014-12-01

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami led to a better understanding of the likelihood of tsunami occurrence and potential tsunami inundation, and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was one direct result of this event. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN-ISDR) adopted HFA in January 2005 in order to reduce disaster risk. As an instrument to compare the risk due to different natural hazards, an integrated worldwide study was implemented and published in several Global Assessment Reports (GAR) by UN-ISDR. The results of the global earthquake induced tsunami hazard and exposure analysis for a return period of 500 years are presented. Both deterministic and probabilistic methods (PTHA) are used. The resulting hazard levels for both methods are compared quantitatively for selected areas. The comparison demonstrates that the analysis is rather rough, which is expected for a study aiming at average trends on a country level across the globe. It is shown that populous Asian countries account for the largest absolute number of people living in tsunami prone areas, more than 50% of the total exposed people live in Japan. Smaller nations like Macao and the Maldives are among the most exposed by population count. Exposed nuclear power plants are limited to Japan, China, India, Taiwan, and USA. On the contrary, a local tsunami vulnerability and risk analysis applies information on population, building types, infrastructure, inundation, flow depth for a certain tsunami scenario with a corresponding return period combined with empirical data on tsunami damages and mortality. Results and validation of a GIS tsunami vulnerability and risk assessment model are presented. The GIS model is adapted for optimal use of data available for each study. Finally, the importance of including landslide sources in the tsunami analysis is also discussed.

Multi-cooperation of Cultural Heritage Conservation: The Cangdong Project of Guangdong Province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, J.

2015-09-01

In recent years, some workshops and research cases have arisen in China to seek for suitable ways for heritage conservation and development of historic villages. However, the issue of multi-cooperation has not been much mentioned in research works. The case of Cangdong Project in Guangdong Province is a social enterprise. It is a center focusing on heritage education. It organizes tailor-made workshops for interested people from all over China and Hong Kong, Macao and overseas, including university courses for credits, summer/winter camps for primary and middle school students, as well as common people who are interested in heritage conservation. The purpose of the education center is to enhance heritage/cultural interest of the younger generations and common people, and try to work with local villagers to build a wealthy community. Nowadays, more and more villagers moved out for work and the countryside population in China is decreasing, this project also aims to create work opportunities for villagers through heritage conservation projects, so that the villagers can be willing to stay. The project focuses more in a sustainable way for community development. It has been five years since the project was set up in Cangdong Village. The project team worked with villagers, city people, students, scholars, different levels of local governments, investors, Medias, charitable organizations, as well as the market of tourism. As such, a platform of multi-cooperation for the above parties has formed during the past five years. This paper takes the Project experience from 2010-2015 as the case to study multi-cooperation in the field of heritage conservation in China, as well as to discuss how to co-operate the subjective initiatives of different stokeholds.

The Empirical Analysis of Cigarette Tax Avoidance and Illicit Trade in Vietnam, 1998-2010

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Minh Thac; Denniston, Ryan; Nguyen, Hien Thi Thu; Hoang, Tuan Anh; Ross, Hana; So, Anthony D.

2014-01-01

Illicit trade carries the potential to magnify existing tobacco-related health care costs through increased availability of untaxed and inexpensive cigarettes. What is known with respect to the magnitude of illicit trade for Vietnam is produced primarily by the industry, and methodologies are typically opaque. Independent assessment of the illicit cigarette trade in Vietnam is vital to tobacco control policy. This paper measures the magnitude of illicit cigarette trade for Vietnam between 1998 and 2010 using two methods, discrepancies between legitimate domestic cigarette sales and domestic tobacco consumption estimated from surveys, and trade discrepancies as recorded by Vietnam and trade partners. The results indicate that Vietnam likely experienced net smuggling in during the period studied. With the inclusion of adjustments for survey respondent under-reporting, inward illicit trade likely occurred in three of the four years for which surveys were available. Discrepancies in trade records indicate that the value of smuggled cigarettes into Vietnam ranges from $100 million to $300 million between 2000 and 2010 and that these cigarettes primarily originate in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, and Australia. Notable differences in trends over time exist between the two methods, but by comparison, the industry estimates consistently place the magnitude of illicit trade at the upper bounds of what this study shows. The unavailability of annual, survey-based estimates of consumption may obscure the true, annual trend over time. Second, as surveys changed over time, estimates relying on them may be inconsistent with one another. Finally, these two methods measure different components of illicit trade, specifically consumption of illicit cigarettes regardless of origin and smuggling of cigarettes into a particular market. However, absent a gold standard, comparisons of different approaches to illicit trade measurement serve efforts to refine and improve measurement approaches and estimates. PMID:24489886

[Evaluation on running status of Chinese Polio Laboratories Network in 2008].

PubMed

Zhu, Shuang-li; Yan, Dong-mei; Zhu, Hui

2010-04-01

In order to evaluate the running status and provide the laboratory data for maintaining polio-free status in China, the virology surveillance database of Chinese Polio Laboratories Network (not include Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan)in 2008 were analyzed. The case investigation data of Acute Flaccid Paralysis(AFP)cases reported by 31 provinces (municipal, autonomous regions) through EPI surveillance information management system and the database of National Polio Laboratory (NPL) were analyzed, and the indicators of running status of Chinese Polio Laboratories Network were evaluated. 10,116 stool samples were collected from 5116 AFP cases by Chinese Polio Laboratories Network in 2008, and viral isolation and identification of all stool samples were done according to 4th World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Laboratory Manual. The rate of viral isolation and identification performed within 28d was 94.9%. 189 polioviruses (PV) and 597 of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) were isolated from AFP cases, the isolatien rates were 3.72% and 11.74% respectively. 251 polio positive isolates were sent to NPL from 31 provincial polio laboratories. There were 318 single serotype PVs were performed VPI sequencing. And no wild polioviruses and Vaccine-derived Polioviruses (VDPVs) were found in 2008. NPL passed the proficiency test and got full accreditation for on-site review by WHO experts in 2008. All 31 provincial Polio laboratories passed the proficiency test with the same panel as NPL, and 13 provincial Polio laboratories joined and passed the on-site review by WHO experts. The running status of Chinese Polio Laboratories Network was good, polio-free status was maintained in China in 2008. The Chinese polio laboratories network running is normaly, the laboratory surveillance system was sensitive and laboratory data were provided for maintaining the polio-free status in China.

Real-world fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions of light-duty diesel vehicles and their correlation with road conditions.

PubMed

Hu, Jingnan; Wu, Ye; Wang, Zhishi; Li, Zhenhua; Zhou, Yu; Wang, Haitao; Bao, Xiaofeng; Hao, Jiming

2012-01-01

The real-world fuel efficiency and exhaust emission profiles of CO, HC and NOx for light-duty diesel vehicles were investigated. Using a portable emissions measurement system, 16 diesel taxies were tested on different roads in Macao and the data were normalized with the vehicle specific power bin method. The 11 Toyota Corolla diesel taxies have very good fuel economy of (5.9 +/- 0.6) L/100 km, while other five diesel taxies showed relatively high values at (8.5 +/- 1.7) L/100 km due to the variation in transmission systems and emission control strategies. Compared to similar Corolla gasoline models, the diesel cars confirmed an advantage of ca. 20% higher fuel efficiency. HC and CO emissions of all the 16 taxies are quite low, with the average at (0.05 +/- 0.02) g/km and (0.38 +/- 0.15) g/km, respectively. The average NOx emission factor of the 11 Corolla taxies is (0.56 +/- 0.17) g/km, about three times higher than their gasoline counterparts. Two of the three Hyundai Sonata taxies, configured with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) + diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) emission control strategies, indicated significantly higher NO2 emissions and NO2/NOx ratios than other diesel taxies and consequently trigger a concern of possibly adverse impacts on ozone pollution in urban areas with this technology combination. A clear and similar pattern for fuel consumption and for each of the three gaseous pollutant emissions with various road conditions was identified. To save energy and mitigate CO2 emissions as well as other gaseous pollutant emissions in urban area, traffic planning also needs improvement.

The empirical analysis of cigarette tax avoidance and illicit trade in Vietnam, 1998-2010.

PubMed

Nguyen, Minh Thac; Denniston, Ryan; Nguyen, Hien Thi Thu; Hoang, Tuan Anh; Ross, Hana; So, Anthony D

2014-01-01

Illicit trade carries the potential to magnify existing tobacco-related health care costs through increased availability of untaxed and inexpensive cigarettes. What is known with respect to the magnitude of illicit trade for Vietnam is produced primarily by the industry, and methodologies are typically opaque. Independent assessment of the illicit cigarette trade in Vietnam is vital to tobacco control policy. This paper measures the magnitude of illicit cigarette trade for Vietnam between 1998 and 2010 using two methods, discrepancies between legitimate domestic cigarette sales and domestic tobacco consumption estimated from surveys, and trade discrepancies as recorded by Vietnam and trade partners. The results indicate that Vietnam likely experienced net smuggling in during the period studied. With the inclusion of adjustments for survey respondent under-reporting, inward illicit trade likely occurred in three of the four years for which surveys were available. Discrepancies in trade records indicate that the value of smuggled cigarettes into Vietnam ranges from $100 million to $300 million between 2000 and 2010 and that these cigarettes primarily originate in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, and Australia. Notable differences in trends over time exist between the two methods, but by comparison, the industry estimates consistently place the magnitude of illicit trade at the upper bounds of what this study shows. The unavailability of annual, survey-based estimates of consumption may obscure the true, annual trend over time. Second, as surveys changed over time, estimates relying on them may be inconsistent with one another. Finally, these two methods measure different components of illicit trade, specifically consumption of illicit cigarettes regardless of origin and smuggling of cigarettes into a particular market. However, absent a gold standard, comparisons of different approaches to illicit trade measurement serve efforts to refine and improve measurement approaches and estimates.

[The running status of Chinese Measles Laboratory Network in 2008].

PubMed

Zhang, Yan; Xu, Song-Tao; Jiang, Xiao-Hong

2009-04-01

To evaluate the running status of Measles laboratory network of China (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were excluded) in 2008. To analyze the database of Measles laboratory network surveillance of the year 2008, and the database of serologic and virologic surveillance of National laboratory for Measles in Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CCDC), then the indicators of the running of Measles laboratory network of China were analyzed. 1, serologic surveillance: 107,160 Measles sera samples were collected between Feburary and September of 2008, and the collection rate was 77.93%; 53 778 samples were qualified and positive for IgM, the positive percentage was 50.2%. 2, Virologic surveillance: 287 Measles viral isolates were isolated by 18 provincial Measles laboratories in 2008, all were certified as H1a genotype, H1a genotype was still the predominant genotype circulating in China; 29 Rubella viral isolates were isolated by 4 provincial Measles laboratories in 2008, all belonged to 1E genotype. 3, Laboratory quality control: National laboratory for Measles passed the proficiency test and on-site review in 2008; all provincial Measles laboratories passed the sera samples recheck and proficiency test hold by National laboratory for Measles in 2008; Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jilin, Hubei, provincial Measles laboratory passed the on-site review by WHO. The running status of Chinese Measles laboratory network was good in 2008, and good laboratory quality control system was also set up, methods such as specimens collection, serologic detection, cell culture and viral isolation, etc, were standardized, and applied to Chinese Measles laboratory network, and it provided important scientific basis for eradication Measles in the year of 2012.

On the spread and control of MDR-TB epidemics: an examination of trends in anti-tuberculosis drug resistance surveillance data

PubMed Central

Cohen, Ted; Jenkins, Helen E.; Lu, Chunling; McLaughlin, Megan; Floyd, Katherine; Zignol, Matteo

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Background Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses serious challenges for tuberculosis control in many settings, but trends of MDR-TB have been difficult to measure. Methods We analyzed surveillance and population-representative survey data collected worldwide by the World Health Organization between 1993 and 2012. We examined setting-specific patterns associated with linear trends in the estimated per capita rate of MDR-TB among new notified TB cases to generate hypotheses about factors associated with trends in the transmission of highly drug resistant tuberculosis. Results 59 countries and 39 sub-national settings had at least three years of data, but less than 10% of the population in the WHO-designated 27-high MDR-TB burden settings were in areas with sufficient data to track trends. Among settings in which the majority of MDR-TB was autochthonous, we found 10 settings with statistically significant linear trends in per capita rates of MDR-TB among new notified TB cases. Five of these settings had declining trends (Estonia, Latvia, Macao, Hong Kong, and Portugal) ranging from decreases of 3-14% annually, while five had increasing trends (four individual oblasts of the Russian Federation and Botswana) ranging from 14-20% annually. In unadjusted analysis, better surveillance indicators and higher GDP per capita were associated with declining MDR-TB, while a higher existing absolute burden of MDR-TB was associated with an increasing trend. Conclusions Only a small fraction of countries in which the burden of MDR-TB is concentrated currently have sufficient surveillance data to estimate trends in drug-resistant TB. Where trend analysis was possible, smaller absolute burdens of MDR-TB and more robust surveillance systems were associated with declining per capita rates of MDR-TB among new notified cases. PMID:25458783

[Comparative analyze on hepatitis B seroepidemiological surveys among population aged 1-29 years in different epidemic regions of China in 1992 and 2014].

PubMed

Wang, F Z; Zhang, G M; Shen, L P; Zheng, H; Wang, F; Miao, N; Yuan, Q L; Sun, X J; Bi, S L; Liang, X F; Wang, H Q

2017-06-06

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hepatitis B prevention and control by comparative analysis on the results of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc prevalence from national hepatitis B seroepidemiological surveys in 1992 and 2014 in different epidemic regions of China. Methods: Data was from the national seroepidemiological surveys of hepatitis B conducted in 1992 and 2014. The survey in 1992 was conducted in 145 disease surveillance points of 30 provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan province) in China. The survey in 2016 was conducted in 160 disease surveillance points of 31 provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan province) in China. In the two surveys, face-to-face interviews with the subject by door to door or on the investigation site were conducted by trained staff using standard questionnaires to obtain basic information including birth date, gender, ethnicity, resident place and so on. And then 5 ml venous blood was collected to test the sero-markers of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. We analyzed unweighted point prevalence and 95 % CI of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in 1992 which had no design weighting, and analyzed weighted point prevalence and 95 %CI of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in 2014 which had design weighting. Results: 34 291 and 31 713 people aged 1-29 years were involved in 1992 and 2014 national serosurveys of China, respectively. For the people aged 1-29 years, HBsAg prevalence was 2.64% (95 %CI: 2.28%-3.06%) in 2014 and decreased by 73.92% as compared with the rate 10.13% (95 % CI: 9.81%-10.45%) in 1992. Anti-HBc prevalence was 13.01% (95 %CI: 12.09%-14.00%) in 2014 and decreased by 71.61% as compared with the rate 45.84% (95 % CI: 45.31%-46.37%) in 1992. Anti-HBs prevalence was 57.79% (95 %CI: 56.33%-59.25%) in 2014 and ascended by 127.41% as compared with the rate 25.41% (95 % CI: 24.95%-25.87%) in 1992. In high, medium and low epidemic region, for the people who born during 1992-2001 when hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in routine immunization management, HBsAg prevalence was 4.74% (95 %CI: 3.79%-5.69%), 1.59% (95 %CI: 1.09%-2.10%) and 2.53% (95 %CI: 1.66%-3.39%), respectively, and anti-HBs prevalence was 64.25% (95 % CI: 62.11%-66.39%), 56.34% (95 % CI: 54.50%-58.57%), 54.49% (95 %CI: 51.75%-57.23%), respectively, and anti-HBc prevalence was 15.16% (95 %CI: 13.56%-16.76%), 11.07% (95 %CI: 9.80%-12.33%), 7.61% (95 %CI: 6.15%-9.07%), respectively. In high, medium and low epidemic region, for the people who born during 2002-2013 the duration which hepatitis B vaccine was integrated in expanded immunization program born during when HBsAg prevalence was 0.88% (95 %CI: 0.66%-1.11%), 0.37% (95 %CI: 0.24%-0.49%)and 0.71% (95 %CI: 0.48%-0.94%), respectively, and anti-HBs prevalence was 60.74% (95 %CI: 59.57%-61.90%), 59.46% (95 %CI: 58.44%-60.49%), 52.56% (95 % CI: 51.20%-53.92%), respectively, and anti-HBc prevalence was 3.30% (95 % CI: 2.87%-3.72%), 1.91% (95 %CI: 1.63%-2.20%), 2.25% (95 %CI : 1.85%-2.66%), respectively. Conclusion: China had made great achievement in hepatitis B prevention and control. HBsAg prevalence among people aged 1-29 years old in 2014 decreased dramatically as compared with that in 1992. Since hepatitis B vaccine was integrated into expanded immunization program, China reduced HBsAg prevalence to less than 1% among people aged 1-12 years in 2014 in different epidemic region.

The role of Thailand in the international trade in CITES-listed live reptiles and amphibians.

PubMed

Nijman, Vincent; Shepherd, Chris R

2011-03-25

International wildlife trade is one of the leading threats to biodiversity conservation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is the most important initiative to monitor and regulate the international trade of wildlife but its credibility is dependent on the quality of the trade data. We report on the performance of CITES reporting by focussing on the commercial trade in non-native reptiles and amphibians into Thailand as to illustrate trends, species composition and numbers of wild-caught vs. captive-bred specimens. Based on data in the WCMC-CITES trade database, we establish that a total of 75,594 individuals of 169 species of reptiles and amphibians (including 27 globally threatened species) were imported into Thailand in 1990-2007. The majority of individuals (59,895, 79%) were listed as captive-bred and a smaller number (15,699, 21%) as wild-caught. In the 1990s small numbers of individuals of a few species were imported into Thailand, but in 2003 both volumes and species diversity increased rapidly. The proportion of captive-bred animals differed greatly between years (from 0 to >80%). Wild-caught individuals were mainly sourced from African countries, and captive-bred individuals from Asian countries (including from non-CITES Parties). There were significant discrepancies between exports and imports. Thailand reports the import of >10,000 individuals (51 species) originating from Kazakhstan, but Kazakhstan reports no exports of these species. Similar discrepancies, involving smaller numbers (>100 individuals of 9 species), can be seen in the import of reptiles into Thailand via Macao. While there has been an increase in imports of amphibian and reptiles into Thailand, erratic patterns in proportions of captive-bred specimens and volumes suggests either capricious markets or errors in reporting. Large discrepancies with respect to origin point to misreporting or possible violations of the rules and intentions of CITES.

The Role of Thailand in the International Trade in CITES-Listed Live Reptiles and Amphibians

PubMed Central

Nijman, Vincent; Shepherd, Chris R.

2011-01-01

Background International wildlife trade is one of the leading threats to biodiversity conservation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is the most important initiative to monitor and regulate the international trade of wildlife but its credibility is dependent on the quality of the trade data. We report on the performance of CITES reporting by focussing on the commercial trade in non-native reptiles and amphibians into Thailand as to illustrate trends, species composition and numbers of wild-caught vs. captive-bred specimens. Methodology/Principal Findings Based on data in the WCMC-CITES trade database, we establish that a total of 75,594 individuals of 169 species of reptiles and amphibians (including 27 globally threatened species) were imported into Thailand in 1990–2007. The majority of individuals (59,895, 79%) were listed as captive-bred and a smaller number (15,699, 21%) as wild-caught. In the 1990s small numbers of individuals of a few species were imported into Thailand, but in 2003 both volumes and species diversity increased rapidly. The proportion of captive-bred animals differed greatly between years (from 0 to >80%). Wild-caught individuals were mainly sourced from African countries, and captive-bred individuals from Asian countries (including from non-CITES Parties). There were significant discrepancies between exports and imports. Thailand reports the import of >10,000 individuals (51 species) originating from Kazakhstan, but Kazakhstan reports no exports of these species. Similar discrepancies, involving smaller numbers (>100 individuals of 9 species), can be seen in the import of reptiles into Thailand via Macao. Conclusion/Significance While there has been an increase in imports of amphibian and reptiles into Thailand, erratic patterns in proportions of captive-bred specimens and volumes suggests either capricious markets or errors in reporting. Large discrepancies with respect to origin point to misreporting or possible violations of the rules and intentions of CITES. PMID:21464976

A review of the control of clonorchiasis sinensis and Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in China.

PubMed

Wu, Wei; Qian, Xiaohua; Huang, Yixin; Hong, Qingbiao

2012-11-01

Clonorchiasis sinensis and Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis are major foodborne parasitoses. Clonorchiasis sinensis is actively transmitted in some areas of China, Korea, Russia, Vietnam, etc. Currently, it is estimated that more than 200 million people are at risk of infection, 15-20 million people are infected, and 1.5-2 million show symptoms or complications. In China, it is relatively heavily transmitted in Zhujiang River Delta, including Hong Kong and Macao, and Northeast China, where many Korean people live. The transmission is related to the unhealthy habits of residents who like to have raw fish or half-raw fish. The infection of Clonorchis sinensis could result in serious liver and biliary system damages, and chronic cases may induce liver and bile duct cancers. T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis is distributed around the world except the areas where the residents have a taboo against pork for religious reasons. Recent years, the urban inhabitants infected with T. solium/Cysticercus are increasing in China. T. solium results in intestinal diseases, and cysticercosis is a very serious disease, especially nervous system cysticercosis. Its symptoms include headache, epilepsy, sudden death, etc. Health education and health promotion, environmental reconstruction, and chemotherapy are the main control measures for these diseases. Through several decades of efforts in China, the achievements of control of clonorchiasis and T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis are great. For example, in one of the main clonorchiasis-endemic provinces, Shandong Province, clonorchiasis has been controlled. In 31 T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis-endemic counties of Henan Province, through a 6-year control program, the decline rates of T. solium taeniasis and cysticercosis were 90.8 and 96.8 %, respectively. This paper reviews the researches on the control of clonorchiasis and T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis in China past decades so as to provide references for other countries where these diseases are endemic to improve the control or elimination of clonorchiasis and T. solium taeniasis/cysticercosis.

Assessing the Underwater Acoustics of the World's Largest Vibration Hammer (OCTA-KONG) and Its Potential Effects on the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhitao; Wu, Yuping; Duan, Guoqin; Cao, Hanjiang; Liu, Jianchang; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding

2014-01-01

Anthropogenic noise in aquatic environments is a worldwide concern due to its potential adverse effects on the environment and aquatic life. The Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is currently under construction in the Pearl River Estuary, a hot spot for the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in China. The OCTA-KONG, the world's largest vibration hammer, is being used during this construction project to drive or extract steel shell piles 22 m in diameter. This activity poses a substantial threat to marine mammals, and an environmental assessment is critically needed. The underwater acoustic properties of the OCTA-KONG were analyzed, and the potential impacts of the underwater acoustic energy on Sousa, including auditory masking and physiological impacts, were assessed. The fundamental frequency of the OCTA-KONG vibration ranged from 15 Hz to 16 Hz, and the noise increments were below 20 kHz, with a dominant frequency and energy below 10 kHz. The resulting sounds are most likely detectable by Sousa over distances of up to 3.5 km from the source. Although Sousa clicks do not appear to be adversely affected, Sousa whistles are susceptible to auditory masking, which may negatively impact this species' social life. Therefore, a safety zone with a radius of 500 m is proposed. Although the zero-to-peak source level (SL) of the OCTA-KONG was lower than the physiological damage level, the maximum root-mean-square SL exceeded the cetacean safety exposure level on several occasions. Moreover, the majority of the unweighted cumulative source sound exposure levels (SSELs) and the cetacean auditory weighted cumulative SSELs exceeded the acoustic threshold levels for the onset of temporary threshold shift, a type of potentially recoverable auditory damage resulting from prolonged sound exposure. These findings may aid in the identification and design of appropriate mitigation methods, such as the use of air bubble curtains, “soft start” and “power down” techniques. PMID:25338113

[Total pollution features of urban runoff outlet for urban river].

PubMed

Luo, Hong-Bing; Luo, Lin; Huang, Gu; He, Qiang; Liu, Ping

2009-11-01

The urban stormwater runoff discharged to urban river, especially to rainfall source river, cannot be ignored. In this study, the Futian River watershed in Shenzhen city in a typical southern city of China is taken as the research object. In order to guide the pollution control for urban river, the eighteen rainfall events were monitored, and the total pollution features of the urban runoff outlet for this urban river were analyzed and discussed by using the process of pollutographs, the identifying to first flush, event mean concentration (EMC), etc. Results show that the concentrations of COD, SS, TN, TP and BOD5 are ten times more than the grade V of the environmental quality standards for surface water during the runoff time; the pollution caused by heavy metals (Cr, Ge, Cu, Hg and As) in runoff at a typical rainfall event is serious; the average and range of pollutant concentration at this runoff outlet in study area are evidently higher than at Shapingba in Chongqing city of China and at Silerwood in Canada, but are lower than at Shilipu in Wuhan city of China. The first flushes of COD, SS, BOD5, especially COD and SS, are evident, but the TN and TP are not. The average EMC of COD, TN, TP and BOD5 are 224.14, 571.15, 5.223, 2.04, 143.5 mg/L, respectively. To some extent, the EMC of COD is about two times of the value of the near cities, Macao and Zhuhai. The EMC of TN and TP are obviously higher than Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. To compared with foreign counties, the EMC of the study area in Shenzhen is obviously much higher than the cities of Korean, USA and Canada. So the total pollution caused by the urban surface runoff in study area is serious and necessary to be treated.

[Analysis of qualifications of medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China].

PubMed

Wang, Huan-qiang; Li, Tao; Qi, Fang; Wu, Rui; Nie, Wu; Yu, Chen

2013-10-01

To investigate the qualifications and current situations of the medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China and to provide a reference for developing relevant policies. Work reports and questionnaires survey were used to investigate the qualifications of all medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China and their acceptance and diagnosis of occupational disease cases from 2006 to 2010. The rate for the work reports was 100%, and the response rate for the questionnaires was 71.0%. By the end of 2010, in the 31 provincial-level regions (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) in China, there had been 503 medical and health institutions which were qualified for providing occupational disease diagnosis, including 207 centers for disease control and prevention, accounting for 41.2%, 145 general hospitals, accounting for 28.8%, 69 enterprise-owned hospitals, accounting for 13.7%, and 64 institutes or centers for occupational disease prevention and control, accounting for 12.7%; 4986 certified doctors got the qualification for providing occupational disease diagnosis, with 9.4 certified doctors on average in each institution, and there was 0.65 certified doctor per 100 000 employees. In addition, 16.5% of the institutions got all the qualifications for diagnosing 9 occupational diseases, and 17.1% of the institutions got the qualification for diagnosing one occupational disease. Each certified doctor accepted diagnosis of 16.8 cases of occupational diseases on average every year. A national occupational disease diagnosis network has been established in China, but the imbalance in regional distribution and specialty programs still exists among the qualified medical and health institutions and certified doctors. It is essential to further strengthen the development of regional qualified medical and health institutions and training of qualified doctors.

Assessing the underwater acoustics of the world's largest vibration hammer (OCTA-KONG) and its potential effects on the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin (Sousa chinensis).

PubMed

Wang, Zhitao; Wu, Yuping; Duan, Guoqin; Cao, Hanjiang; Liu, Jianchang; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding

2014-01-01

Anthropogenic noise in aquatic environments is a worldwide concern due to its potential adverse effects on the environment and aquatic life. The Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is currently under construction in the Pearl River Estuary, a hot spot for the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in China. The OCTA-KONG, the world's largest vibration hammer, is being used during this construction project to drive or extract steel shell piles 22 m in diameter. This activity poses a substantial threat to marine mammals, and an environmental assessment is critically needed. The underwater acoustic properties of the OCTA-KONG were analyzed, and the potential impacts of the underwater acoustic energy on Sousa, including auditory masking and physiological impacts, were assessed. The fundamental frequency of the OCTA-KONG vibration ranged from 15 Hz to 16 Hz, and the noise increments were below 20 kHz, with a dominant frequency and energy below 10 kHz. The resulting sounds are most likely detectable by Sousa over distances of up to 3.5 km from the source. Although Sousa clicks do not appear to be adversely affected, Sousa whistles are susceptible to auditory masking, which may negatively impact this species' social life. Therefore, a safety zone with a radius of 500 m is proposed. Although the zero-to-peak source level (SL) of the OCTA-KONG was lower than the physiological damage level, the maximum root-mean-square SL exceeded the cetacean safety exposure level on several occasions. Moreover, the majority of the unweighted cumulative source sound exposure levels (SSELs) and the cetacean auditory weighted cumulative SSELs exceeded the acoustic threshold levels for the onset of temporary threshold shift, a type of potentially recoverable auditory damage resulting from prolonged sound exposure. These findings may aid in the identification and design of appropriate mitigation methods, such as the use of air bubble curtains, "soft start" and "power down" techniques.

Spatial Characteristics of Geothermal Spring Temperatures and Discharge Rates in the Tatun Volcanic Area, Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, C. S.; Liu, C. W.

2014-12-01

The Tatun volcanic area is the only potential volcanic geothermal region in the Taiwan island, and abundant in hot spring resources owing to stream water mixing with fumarolic gases. According to the Meinzer's classification, spring temperatures and discharge rates are the most important properties for characterizing spring classifications. This study attempted to spatially characterize spring temperatures and discharge rates in the Tatun volcanic area, Taiwanusing indicator kriging (IK). First, data on spring temperatures and discharge rates, which were collected from surveyed data of the Taipei City Government, were divided into high, moderate and low categories according to spring classification criteria, and the various categories were regarded as estimation thresholds. Then, IK was adopted to model occurrence probabilities of specified temperatures and discharge rates in springs, and to determine their classifications based on estimated probabilities. Finally, nine combinations were obtained from the classifications of temperatures and discharge rates in springs. Moreover, the combinations and features of spring water were spatially quantified according to seven sub-zones of spring utilization. A suitable and sustainable development strategy of the spring area was proposed in each sub-zone based on probability-based combinations and features of spring water.The research results reveal that the probability-based classifications using IK provide an excellent insight in exploring the uncertainty of spatial features in springs, and can provide Taiwanese government administrators with detailed information on sustainable spring utilization and conservation in the overexploited spring tourism areas. The sub-zones BT (Beitou), RXY (Rd. Xingyi), ZSL (Zhongshanlou) and LSK (Lengshuikeng) with high or moderate discharge rates are suitable to supply spring water for tourism hotels.Local natural hot springs should be planned in the sub-zones DBT (Dingbeitou), ZSL, XYK (Xiayoukeng), and MC (Macao) with low discharge rates, and low or moderate temperatures, particularly in riverbeds or valleys.Keywords: Spring; Temperature; Discharge rate; Indicator kriging; Uncertainty

Analyzing the Chinese landscape in anti-diabetic drug research: leading knowledge production institutions and thematic communities.

PubMed

Deng, Junling; Sitou, Kaweng; Zhang, Yongping; Yan, Ru; Hu, Yuanjia

2016-01-01

The discovery of anti-diabetic drugs is an active Chinese medicine research area. This study aims to map out anti-diabetic drug research in China using a network-based systemic approach based on co-authorship of academic publications. We focused on identifying leading knowledge production institutions, analyzing interactions among them, detecting communities with high internal associations, and exploring future research directions. Target articles published in 2009-2013 under the topic "diabetes" and subject category "pharmacology & pharmacy," with "China," "Taiwan," "Hong Kong," or "Macao" (or "Macau") in the authors' address field were retrieved from the science citation index expanded database and their bibliographic information (e.g., article title, authors, keywords, and authors' affiliation addresses) analyzed. A social network approach was used to construct an institutional collaboration network based on co-publications. Gephi software was used to visualize the network and relationships among institutes were analyzed using centrality measurements. Thematic analysis based on article keywords and R sc value was applied to reveal the research hotspots and directions of network communities. The top 50 institutions were identified; these included Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Taiwan University, Peking University, and China Pharmaceutical University. Institutes from Taiwan tended to cooperate with institutes outside Taiwan, but those from mainland China showed low interest in external collaboration. Fourteen thematic communities were detected with the Louvain algorithm and further labeled by their high-frequency and characteristic keywords, such as Chinese medicines, diabetic complications, oxidative stress, pharmacokinetics, and insulin resistance. The keyword Chinese medicines comprised a range of Chinese medicine-related topics, including berberine, flavonoids, Astragalus polysaccharide, emodin, and ginsenoside. These keywords suggest potential fields for further anti-diabetic drug research. The correlation of -0.641 (P = 0.013) between degree centrality and the R sc value of non-core keywords indicates that communities concentrating on rare research fields are usually isolated by others and have a lower chance of collaboration. With a better understanding of the Chinese landscape in anti-diabetic drug research, researchers and scholars looking for experts and institutions in a specific research area can rapidly spot their target community, then select the most appropriate potential collaborator and suggest preferential research directions for future studies.

[The epidemic status and secular trends of myopia prevalence for Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from 2005 to 2014].

PubMed

Dong, Y H; Liu, H B; Wang, Z H; Xu, R B; Yang, Z P; Ma, J

2017-04-06

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of geographic distribution and change trend of myopia prevalence for children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old from 2005 to 2014, which provides the basis for the prevention of myopia. Methods: Research material was selected from the data of 2005, 2010, and 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health, including 31 provinces (with the exception of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). The complete detection data of binoculus in children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old were selected as our research objects. The research objects of three studies were 233 505, 216 474, and 215 160, respectively. We analyzed the characteristics of geographic distribution and change trend of myopia prevalence for children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old in 31 provinces from 2005 to 2014. Results: The overall myopia detection rates in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years old in 31 provinces were 47.4% (111 707/235 505), 55.6% (120 456/216 474), and 57.2% (122 965/215 160) in 2005, 2010 and 2014, respectively. The growth range in this two phases were 8.0 percentage points, and 1.6 percentage points, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). The detection rate of Myopia was growing quickly from 2005 to 2010 and only three provinces were in the situation of decline state including Tianjin, Hainan, and Ningxia. 90.3 percent (28/31) of provinces were in the situation of growth state and the growth range was 1.3%-22.3%. The growth of myopia was in the situation of slowdown from 2010 to 2014, and 38.7 percent (12/31) of the provinces were in negative growth districts including Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, Tibet, Qianghai, and Xinjiang. The growth range in other provinces was 0.4%-24.7%. Conclusion: The myopia detection rate was at a higher level and growing constantly in China. There was large difference for myopia of children and adolescents among the 31 provinces. However, the overall growth rate of myopia in children and adolescents was in the situation of a relatively low level form 2010 to 2014.

[Disease burden attributable to household air pollution in 1990 and 2013 in China].

PubMed

Yin, P; Cai, Y; Liu, J M; Liu, Y N; Qi, J L; Wang, L J; You, J L; Zhou, M G

2017-01-06

Objective: To assess the disease burden attributable to household air pollution in 1990 and 2013 in China. Methods: Based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 in China (GBD 2013), we used population attributable fractions (PAF) to analyze the burden of different diseases attributable to solid-fuel household pollution in 2013 in China(not inclnding HongKang, Macao, Taiwan). We compared PAF, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for diseases attributable to solid-fuel household pollution in 31 provinces in mainland China in 1990 and 2013, and stratified the burden by age group. The estimated world average population during 2000- 2025 was used to calculate age-standardized mortality and DALY rates. Results: In 2013, 14.9% of lower respiratory infections in children <5, 32.5% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 12.0% of ischemic stroke, 14.2% of hemorrhagic stroke, 10.9% of ischemic heart disease, and 13.7% of lung cancer were attributable to solid-fuel household pollution. In addition, 807 000 deaths were attributable to solid-fuel household pollution, including 296 000 from COPD, 169 000 from hemorrhagic stroke, 152 000 from ischemic heart disease, 88 000 from ischemic stroke, 75 000 from lung cancer, and 28 000 from lower respiratory infections in children <5. The age-standardized mortality rate from solid-fuel household pollution decreased by 59.3% from 158.8/100 000 in 1990 to 64.6/100 000 in 2013. The age-standardized mortality rate from solid-fuel household pollution decreased in all 31 provinces, with the highest decline observed in Shanghai (96.3%), and lowest in Xinjiang (39.9%). In 2013, the age-standardized DALY rate from solid-fuel household pollution was highest in Guizhou (2 233.0/100 000) and lowest in Shanghai (27.0/100 000). The DALY rate was the highest for the >70 age group (7 006.0/100 000). Compared with 1990, the 2013 mortality rate and DALY rate from solid-fuel household pollution decreased in all age groups, with the highest decline observed in the <5 age group (91.9% and 91.8% , respectively). Conclusion: Although the disease burden attributable to household air pollution decreased notably between 1990 and 2013, household pollution caused a high number of deaths and DALY loss in certain western provinces.

Comparison of High Resolution Quantitative Extreme Precipitation Estimation from GPM Dual-frequency Radar and S-band Radar Observation over Southern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, A.; Chen, S.; Fan, S.; Min, C.

2017-12-01

Precipitation is one of the basic elements of regional and global climate change. Not only does the precipitation have a great impact on the earth's hydrosphere, but also plays a crucial role in the global energy balance. S-band ground-based dual-polarization radar has the excellent performance of identifying the different phase states of precipitation, which can dramatically improve the accuracy of hail identification and quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE). However, the ground-based radar cannot measure the precipitation in mountains, sparsely populated plateau, desert and ocean because of the ground-based radar void. The Unites States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have launched the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) for almost three years. GPM is equipped with a GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) and a Dual-frequency (Ku- and Ka-band) Precipitation Radar (DPR) that covers the globe between 65°S and 65°N. The main parameters and the detection method of DPR are different from those of ground-based radars, thus, the DPR's reliability and capability need to be investigated and evaluated by the ground-based radar. This study compares precipitation derived from the ground-based radar measurement to that derived from the DPR's observations. The ground-based radar is a S-band dual-polarization radar deployed near an airport in the west of Zhuhai city. The ground-based quantitative precipitation estimates are with a high resolution of 1km×1km×6min. It shows that this radar covers the whole Pearl River Delta of China, including Hong Kong and Macao. In order to quantify the DPR precipitation quantification capabilities relative to the S-band radar, statistical metrics used in this study are as follows: the difference (Dif) between DPR and the S-band radar observation, root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (CC). Additionally, Probability of Detection (POD) and False Alarm Ratio (FAR) are used to further evaluate the rainfall capacity of the DPR. The comparisons performed between the DPR and the S-band radar are expected to provide a useful reference not only for algorithm developers but also the end users in hydrology, ecology, weather forecast service and so on.

Portuguese Ornamental Stones - Identity and Cultural Heritage around the World

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopes, Luis

2016-04-01

Portugal has established itself as an independent state on October, 5th 1143 being confined to the south-eastern tip of Europe, with sealed land access to the rest of the continent by the others Iberian Peninsula kingdoms, enemies at the time who did not accept Portuguese autonomy. From the fourteenth century, the history of Portugal reports a period of epic discoveries. New commercial maritime routes have been established. Those routes sailing around Africa, passing through India, drove Portuguese people to Macao and Timor. To the East other routes reach the South American continent. Besides commercial interest, and because the church also financed these trips, they had the mission to evangelize the native peoples that were found. In every formed captaincies, over 29 actual countries, numerous churches, hospitals and fortifications were built. Combining a long tradition and mastery of monumental stone building and stonemasonry, which dates back to the Roman Period, Portuguese were able to combine the need to provide ships stability, using already worked stone as ballast. When arrived to these remote locations, quickly and with few local resources, could erect towering and admirable structures that still prevail today. Most of these regions were colonized and gave rise to independent countries in the 70's of the 20th Century, in some of them Portuguese is the official language and these constitutes the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). This work shows that in addition to the language, traditions, customs, and architecture, there's also a very rich Portuguese Natural Stones monumental heritage building record, which constitutes a very strong link that binds this so special community. References Casal Moura, A., 2000. Granitos e Rochas Similares de Portugal, Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Lisboa, ISBN 972-98469-5-2. 179. Casal Moura, A.; Carvalho, C.; Almeida, I.; Saúde, J. G.; Farinha Ramos, J.; Augusto, J.; Rodrigues, J. D.; Carvalho, J.; Martins, L.; Matos; M. J.; Machado, M.; Sobreiro, M. J.; Peres, M.; Martins, N.; Bonito, N.; Henriques, P. & Sobreiro, S., 2007. Mármores e Calcários Ornamentais de Portugal. INETI (National Institute of Engineering, Technology and Innovation), ISBN 978-972-676-204-1. 383. Lopes, L., Carrilho Lopes, J. C., CABRAL, J. P. & Sarantopoulos, P. (2000) - Caracterização Petrográfica dos Monumentos Romanos de Évora. Revista "Cidade de Évora", II Série, N°4. 129-142. Silva, Z. C. (2007) - O Lioz Português de lastro. De navio a arte na Bahia, Edições Afrontamento, Porto, ISBN 978-972-36-0924-0, 156.

Computed tomography-guided aspiration versus key-hole craniotomy for spontaneous putaminal haemorrhage: a prospective comparison of minimally invasive procedures.

PubMed

Zhao, J Z; Zhou, L F; Zhou, D B; Wang, R Z; Wang, M; Wang, D J; Wang, S; Yuan, G; Kang, S; Ji, N; Zhao, Y L; Ye, X

2009-08-01

To compare the effectiveness of two minimally invasive procedures, namely computed tomography-guided aspiration and the key-hole approach, in the neurosurgical management for spontaneous putaminal haemorrhage, and to explore the indications for the two approaches. A multicentre, single-blinded controlled trial. Hospitals taking part in this trial and the sources for patients were from China. Among others, the hospitals involved in the interventions included: the Beijing Tiantan Hospital (of the Capital University of Medical Sciences), the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, the Peking Union Hospital, and the Shanghai Huashan Hospital (of the Fudan University medical school). From September 2001 to November 2003, data were available for analysis from a total of 841 patients with spontaneous putaminal haemorrhage from 135 hospitals all over China (except Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao). All follow-up data were for at least 3 months. Mortality, Glasgow Coma Scale score, postoperative complications, Kanofsky Performance Scale score, and Barthel Index. There were 563 patients who underwent computed tomography-guided aspiration, and 165 were treated by the key-hole approach. Respective mortality rates 1 month after the operation were 17.9% and 18.3%; at 3 months they were 19.4% and 19.4%. In those undergoing computed tomography-guided aspiration, mortality rates at 3 months after the operation were 28.2% in patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 8 or below, as opposed to 8.2% in those with higher scores. This amounted to a 3.4-fold difference. In those treated by the key-hole approach, the corresponding rates were 30.2% and 7.6%, which amounted to a 4-fold difference. The corresponding mortality at 3 months in patients with complications was 3.9 times as great as in those without complications. In those with haematoma volumes of 70 mL or greater, it was 2.7 times as much as in those in whom the volumes below 30 mL. The postoperative complication rate of computed tomography-guided aspiration (23.7%) did not differ significantly from that in those having the key-hole approach (25.7%) [P=0.420]. Computed tomography-guided aspiration is not superior to the key-hole approach for treating spontaneous putaminal haemorrhage in terms of favourable outcomes, mortality, and morbidity. However, it could be the first-choice approach for those with bleeds of 50 mL or less, while the key-hole approach may be more suitable for those with larger haematomas.

Modeling the Transmission of Measles and Rubella to Support Global Management Policy Analyses and Eradication Investment Cases.

PubMed

Thompson, Kimberly M; Badizadegan, Nima D

2017-06-01

Policy makers responsible for managing measles and rubella immunization programs currently use a wide range of different vaccines formulations and immunization schedules. With endemic measles and rubella transmission interrupted in the region of the Americas, all five other regions of the World Health Organization (WHO) targeting the elimination of measles transmission by 2020, and increasing adoption of rubella vaccine globally, integrated dynamic disease, risk, decision, and economic models can help national, regional, and global health leaders manage measles and rubella population immunity. Despite hundreds of publications describing models for measles or rubella and decades of use of vaccines that contain both antigens (e.g., measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine or MMR), no transmission models for measles and rubella exist to support global policy analyses. We describe the development of a dynamic disease model for measles and rubella transmission, which we apply to 180 WHO member states and three other areas (Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, and Macao) representing >99.5% of the global population in 2013. The model accounts for seasonality, age-heterogeneous mixing, and the potential existence of preferentially mixing undervaccinated subpopulations, which create heterogeneity in immunization coverage that impacts transmission. Using our transmission model with the best available information about routine, supplemental, and outbreak response immunization, we characterize the complex transmission dynamics for measles and rubella historically to compare the results with available incidence and serological data. We show the results from several countries that represent diverse epidemiological situations to demonstrate the performance of the model. The model suggests relatively high measles and rubella control costs of approximately $3 billion annually for vaccination based on 2013 estimates, but still leads to approximately 17 million disability-adjusted life years lost with associated costs for treatment, home care, and productivity loss costs of approximately $4, $3, and $47 billion annually, respectively. Combined with vaccination and other financial cost estimates, our estimates imply that the eradication of measles and rubella could save at least $10 billion per year, even without considering the benefits of preventing lost productivity and potential savings from reductions in vaccination. The model should provide a useful tool for exploring the health and economic outcomes of prospective opportunities to manage measles and rubella. Improving the quality of data available to support decision making and modeling should represent a priority as countries work toward measles and rubella goals. © 2017 Society for Risk Analysis.

Update: Increase in Human Infections with Novel Asian Lineage Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Viruses During the Fifth Epidemic - China, October 1, 2016-August 7, 2017.

PubMed

Kile, James C; Ren, Ruiqi; Liu, Liqi; Greene, Carolyn M; Roguski, Katherine; Iuliano, A Danielle; Jang, Yunho; Jones, Joyce; Thor, Sharmi; Song, Ying; Zhou, Suizan; Trock, Susan C; Dugan, Vivien; Wentworth, David E; Levine, Min Z; Uyeki, Timothy M; Katz, Jacqueline M; Jernigan, Daniel B; Olsen, Sonja J; Fry, Alicia M; Azziz-Baumgartner, Eduardo; Davis, C Todd

2017-09-08

Among all influenza viruses assessed using CDC's Influenza Risk Assessment Tool (IRAT), the Asian lineage avian influenza A(H7N9) virus (Asian H7N9), first reported in China in March 2013,* is ranked as the influenza virus with the highest potential pandemic risk (1). During October 1, 2016-August 7, 2017, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China; CDC, Taiwan; the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection; and the Macao CDC reported 759 human infections with Asian H7N9 viruses, including 281 deaths, to the World Health Organization (WHO), making this the largest of the five epidemics of Asian H7N9 infections that have occurred since 2013 (Figure 1). This report summarizes new viral and epidemiologic features identified during the fifth epidemic of Asian H7N9 in China and summarizes ongoing measures to enhance pandemic preparedness. Infections in humans and poultry were reported from most areas of China, including provinces bordering other countries, indicating extensive, ongoing geographic spread. The risk to the general public is very low and most human infections were, and continue to be, associated with poultry exposure, especially at live bird markets in mainland China. Throughout the first four epidemics of Asian H7N9 infections, only low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses were detected among human, poultry, and environmental specimens and samples. During the fifth epidemic, mutations were detected among some Asian H7N9 viruses, identifying the emergence of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses as well as viruses with reduced susceptibility to influenza antiviral medications recommended for treatment. Furthermore, the fifth-epidemic viruses diverged genetically into two separate lineages (Pearl River Delta lineage and Yangtze River Delta lineage), with Yangtze River Delta lineage viruses emerging as antigenically different compared with those from earlier epidemics. Because of its pandemic potential, candidate vaccine viruses (CVV) were produced in 2013 that have been used to make vaccines against Asian H7N9 viruses circulating at that time. CDC is working with partners to enhance surveillance for Asian H7N9 viruses in humans and poultry, to improve laboratory capability to detect and characterize H7N9 viruses, and to develop, test and distribute new CVV that could be used for vaccine production if a vaccine is needed.

[Field epidemiological study on news reports that related to public health emergencies].

PubMed

Zhang, Shun-xiang; Li, Xue-mei; Luo, Nian-ci; Mei, Shu-jiang; Jiang, Li-juan

2013-12-01

All news reports (NR) that were related to public health emergency (PHE) were collected from the Southern Metropolis Daily (SMD) to explore the characteristics of epidemiology in the fields. Based on the theory of communication that including both case and text analysis, qualitative analysis on all the NR regarding PHE published in SMD from the years of 2008 to 2012, was carried out and input to database using the EpiData. Numbers of articles as indicators were compared to show the yearly change of different types of events. Various features of the NR including coverage, source of information, location of the incident, style and size of news, with or without editorials etc. were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 18.0. Among all the 998 reports related to PHE, higher proportion was found in the events of Infectious diseases (35.3%) and food safety (34.1%)respectively. Events on vaccines and drugs used for disease prevention and control (8.9%), environmental pollution caused incidents (8.0%)appeared to be less frequent. Events related to occupational disease, poisoning, bioterrorism and biochemical events were rare. Looking at the monthly distribution of reports, we noticed that the peaks occurred in 2008 and in 2009, which were caused by the Melamine-contamination events and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Between 2010 and 2012, figures of monthly reports were smooth, including some critical events from the interests of the media. Most events took place in Guangdong province (34.3%) and other provinces (50.9%), with some were from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions (9.5%). However, international events (5.2%)were less seen. Extensive coverage accounted for 17.6% of all of reports, and 11.5% allotted the editorials or other forms of in-depth reports. Most of the source of reports on infectious diseases and food safety were from the official release, however. The main sources of occupational diseases and poisoning, vaccines and drug incidents, environmental pollution related incidents were reported by active journalists through interview. Reports on hand, foot and mouth disease, influenza, milk safety, AIDS and lead pollution showed continued concern in the past five years by SMD. NR on public health emergencies by SM had encompassed all 10 categories-related events formulated by the Ministry of Health. Sustained and in-depth coverage were more commonly seen. Field-epidemiologists should learn interdisciplinary sciences on the theory and methodology of communication. They also need to interact with media people during the whole processes of public health emergency preparedness and responses.

[Subnational analysis of probability of premature mortality caused by four main non-communicable diseases in China during 1990-2015 and " Health China 2030" reduction target].

PubMed

Zeng, X Y; Li, Y C; Liu, S W; Wang, L J; Liu, Y N; Liu, J M; Zhou, M G

2017-03-06

Objective: To investigate the current status, temporal trend and achieving Health China 2030 reduction target of probability of premature mortality caused by four main non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumour, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease in China both at national and provincial level during 1990 to 2015. Methods: Using the results of Global Burden of Disease study 2015 (GBD 2015), according to the method of calculating premature mortality probability recommended by WHO, the current status and temporal trend by different gender from 1990 to 2015 were calculated, analyzed, and compared. Referring to " Health China 2030" target of reduction 30% of probability of premature mortality caused by major NCDs, we evaluated the difficulty of achieving the reduction target among provinces (not including Taiwan). Results: From 1990 to 2015, the probabilities of premature mortality in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumour, and chronic respiratory disease were all declined consistently for both men and women in China, the total of four main NCDs decreased from 30.69% to 18.54% with higher decreasing in women (from 25.97% to 12.40%) than that in men (from 34.94% to 24.19%). In 2015, the top five provinces in terms of probability of premature mortality caused by four main NCDs were Qinghai (28.81%), Tibet (25.88%), Guizhou (24.67%), Guangxi (23.56%), and Xinjiang (23.21%) in turn, while the top five provinces with the lowest probability were Shanghai (8.40%), Beijing (9.39%), Hong Kong (10.10%), Macao (10.31%), and Zhejiang (11.70%). If achieving the " Health China 2030" target, the probabilities of premature mortality in Qinghai and Tibet with the highest probability should decline to about 20.17%, and 18.12%, respectively in 2030, while 5.88%, and 6.57% in Shanghai and Beijing, respectively. From 1990 to 2015, the probability of premature mortality of four main NCDs declined by 2.00% a year on average, the top five provinces with the fastest decline were Beijing (3.48%), Shanghai (3.24%), Zhejiang (2.81%), Fujian (2.75%), and Guangdong (2.67%), and 11 provinces including these five provinces could achieve the " Health China 2030" target by the usual rate of decline, while other 22 provinces could not achieve the target, they need greater rate of decline in order to achieve the target. Conclusion: From 1990 to 2015, the probabilities of premature mortality of four main NCDs were declined consistently in China both at national and provincial level, compared with women, the men had higher probabilities and declined slower, there were significant different in probabilities of premature mortality and their change speed among provinces. Based on the results from 1990 to 2015, there were about two thirds of the provinces, which the task of achieving the Health China 2030 target will be daunting.

[Epidemic status and secular trends of malnutrition among children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from 2005 to 2014 in China].

PubMed

Dong, Y H; Wang, Z H; Yang, Z G; Wang, X J; Chen, Y J; Zou, Z Y; Ma, J

2017-06-18

To understand and analyze the current situation and secular trends for prevalence of malnutrition among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from 2005 to 2014, and to provide important scientific basis for students' nutrition improvement. All the subjects aged 7-18 years in both sexes were sampled from 2005, 2010 and 2014 Chinese National Surveys on Students Constitution and Health. According to the new students' health standard of "Screening Standard for Malnutrition of school-age children and adolescents"(WS/T456-2014) in 2014 of China, the nutritional status of children in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities, excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan province) were analyzed and compared in different ages, genders, regions and provinces from 2005 to 2014. The Tibetan students was used with the data of Tibetan minority and all the other students from 30 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) were Han minority. The prevalence of malnutrition of children and adolescents of Han minority aged 7-18 years in 2014 was 10.0%. The prevalence of malnutrition components, including stunting, mild wasting and moderate severe wasting, were 0.8%, 3.7%, and 5.5%. Compared with 2005 and 2010, the prevalence of malnutrition of Han children and adolescents in 2014 had declined with 5.0 and 2.6 percentage points, respectively, and its components had declined with 1.0, 1.8, 2.2 and 0.4, 1.1, 1.2 percentage points, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition of 2014 in boys was higher than in girls (11.1% vs.8.9%), the rural was higher than the urban (11.0% vs.9.1%) and the west (11.7%) was higher than the east (9.0%) and the middle (9.2%). Mild wasting of Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years was the main component in malnutrition and the stunting in the Han and Tibetan children and adolescents only accounted for 8.0% and 7.5%, respectively. Compared with 2005 and 2010, the prevalence of malnutrition for Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years in 2014 had declined with various extents constantly, and there was a statistically significant difference among three surveys (P<0.05). Provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) with high prevalence of malnutrition mainly concentrated in the southwest of China from 2005 to 2014. Compared with 2005 and 2010, the prevalence of malnutrition declined in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) of China in 2014. The number of provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) with high prevalence of malnutrition decreased constantly and increased for the number of province (autonomous regions, municipalities) with low prevalence. The prevalence of malnutrition among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years had declined from 2005 to 2014, but the total prevalence of malnutrition was still high. Mild wasting was the main component in malnutrition and the prevalence of stunting was low. Provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) with high prevalence of malnutrition mainly concentrated in the southwest of China.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Radial velocity curve of 51 Peg (Birkby+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birkby, J. L.; de Kok, R. J.; Brogi, M.; Schwarz, H.; Snellen, I. A. G.

2017-07-01

We observed the bright star 51 Peg (G2.5V, V=5.46mag, K=3.91mag) for 3.7hr during the night beginning 2010 October 21, using the CRyogenic InfraRed Echelle Spectrograph (CRIRES) mounted at Nasmyth A at the VLT (8.2 m UT1/Antu), Cerro Paranal, Chile. The observations were collected as part of the ESO large program 186.C-0289. The instrument setup consisted of a 0.2 arcsec slit centred on 3236nm (order 17), in combination with the Multi-Application Curvature Adaptive Optic system (MACAO). The CRIRES infrared detector is comprised of four Aladdin III InSb-arrays, each with 1024*512 pixels, and separated by a gap of 280 pixels. The resulting wavelength coverage of the observations was 3.1806<λ(μm)<3.2659 with a resolution of R{approx}100000 per resolution element. We observed 51 Peg continuously while its hot Jupiter companion passed through orbital phases 0.55<~{Phi}<~0.58, corresponding to an expected change in the planet's radial velocity of ΔRVP=-23km/s (15 pixels on the CRIRES detectors). In total, we obtained 42 spectra, with the first 20 spectra each consisting of two sets of 5*20s exposures, and the remainder each consisting of two sets of 5*30s exposures. The increase in the exposure time was aimed at maintaining a constant signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) in the continuum of the observed stellar spectra after a sudden and significant deterioration of the seeing (increasing from 0.75 to 1.4 arcsec between one set of frames, see Section 2.3). To enable accurate sky-background subtraction, the telescope was nodded along the slit by 10 arcsec between each set of exposures in a classic ABBA sequence, with each of the final 42 extracted spectra consisting of an AB or BA pair. A standard set of CRIRES calibration frames was taken the following morning. To ensure we had its most up-to-date orbital solution, we compiled an extensive repository of literature and archival radial velocity measurements of the star 51 Peg from multiple observatories. These data are given in Table 1 and span observing dates from 1994 September 15 to 2014 July 9, resulting in 639 radial velocity measurements over 20 years. The table includes the discovery measurements from the ELODIE spectrograph at Observatoire Haute Provence and subsequent additional monitoring. We took these radial velocity measurements from the Naef et al. 2004 (Cat. J/A+A/414/351) compilation. We also included the legacy data set from Lick Observatory observed with the Hamilton spectrograph, taking measurements from the self-consistent reprocessing of all the Lick spectra presented by Fischer et al. 2014 (Cat. J/ApJS/210/5). Finally, we included more recent additional monitoring from the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) at the Keck Observatory, and extracted RVs from observations with the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) at the ESO-3.6m telescope in 2013 (ESO program ID 091.C-0271, PI: Santos). The reduced HARPS spectra were obtained from the ESO Science Archive (http://archive.eso.org/wdb/wdb/adp/phase3_spectral/query). (1 data file).

Titanic Weather Forecasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2004-04-01

New Detailed VLT Images of Saturn's Largest Moon Optimizing space missions Titan, the largest moon of Saturn was discovered by Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens in 1655 and certainly deserves its name. With a diameter of no less than 5,150 km, it is larger than Mercury and twice as large as Pluto. It is unique in having a hazy atmosphere of nitrogen, methane and oily hydrocarbons. Although it was explored in some detail by the NASA Voyager missions, many aspects of the atmosphere and surface still remain unknown. Thus, the existence of seasonal or diurnal phenomena, the presence of clouds, the surface composition and topography are still under debate. There have even been speculations that some kind of primitive life (now possibly extinct) may be found on Titan. Titan is the main target of the NASA/ESA Cassini/Huygens mission, launched in 1997 and scheduled to arrive at Saturn on July 1, 2004. The ESA Huygens probe is designed to enter the atmosphere of Titan, and to descend by parachute to the surface. Ground-based observations are essential to optimize the return of this space mission, because they will complement the information gained from space and add confidence to the interpretation of the data. Hence, the advent of the adaptive optics system NAOS-CONICA (NACO) [1] in combination with ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile now offers a unique opportunity to study the resolved disc of Titan with high sensitivity and increased spatial resolution. Adaptive Optics (AO) systems work by means of a computer-controlled deformable mirror that counteracts the image distortion induced by atmospheric turbulence. It is based on real-time optical corrections computed from image data obtained by a special camera at very high speed, many hundreds of times each second (see e.g. ESO Press Release 25/01 , ESO PR Photos 04a-c/02, ESO PR Photos 19a-c/02, ESO PR Photos 21a-c/02, ESO Press Release 17/02, and ESO Press Release 26/03 for earlier NACO images, and ESO Press Release 11/03 for MACAO-VLTI results.) The southern smile ESO PR Photo 08a/04 ESO PR Photo 08a/04 Images of Titan on November 20, 25 and 26, 2002 Through Five Filters (VLT YEPUN + NACO) [Preview - JPEG: 522 x 400 pix - 40k] [Normal - JPEG: 1043 x 800 pix - 340k] [Hires - JPEG: 2875 x 2205 pix - 1.2M] Caption: ESO PR Photo 08a/04 shows Titan (apparent visual magnitude 8.05, apparent diameter 0.87 arcsec) as observed with the NAOS/CONICA instrument at VLT Yepun (Paranal Observatory, Chile) on November 20, 25 and 26, 2003, between 6.00 UT and 9.00 UT. The median seeing values were 1.1 arcsec and 1.5 arcsec respectively for the 20th and 25th. Deconvoluted ("sharpened") images of Titan are shown through 5 different narrow-band filters - they allow to probe in some detail structures at different altitudes and on the surface. Depending on the filter, the integration time varies from 10 to 100 seconds. While Titan shows its leading hemisphere (i.e. the one observed when Titan moves towards us) on Nov. 20, the trailing side (i.e the one we see when Titan moves away from us in its course around Saturn) - which displays less bright surface features - is observed on the last two dates. ESO PR Photo 08b/04 ESO PR Photo 08b/04 Titan Observed Through Nine Different Filters on November 26, 2002 [Preview - JPEG: 480 x 400 pix - 36k] [Normal - JPEG: 960 x 800 pix - 284k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 08b/04: Images of Titan taken on November 26, 2002 through nine different filters to probe different altitudes, ranging from the stratosphere to the surface. On this night, a stable "seeing" (image quality before adaptive optics correction) of 0.9 arcsec allowed the astronomers to attain the diffraction limit of the telescope (0.032 arcsec resolution). Due to these good observing conditions, Titan's trailing hemisphere was observed with contrasts of about 40%, allowing the detection of several bright features on this surface region, once thought to be quite dark and featureless. ESO PR Photo 08c/04 ESO PR Photo 08c/04 Titan Surface Projections [Preview - JPEG: 601 x 400 pix - 64k] [Normal - JPEG: 1201 x 800 pix - 544k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 08c/04 : Titan images obtained with NACO on November 26th, 2002. Left: Titan's surface projection on the trailing hemisphere as observed at 1.3 μm, revealing a complex brightness structure thanks to the high image contrast of about 40%. Right: a new, possibly meteorological, phenomenon observed at 2.12 μm in Titan's atmosphere, in the form of a bright feature revolving around the South Pole. A team of French astronomers [2] have recently used the NACO state-of-the-art adaptive optics system on the fourth 8.2-m VLT unit telescope, Yepun, to map the surface of Titan by means of near-infrared images and to search for changes in the dense atmosphere. These extraordinary images have a nominal resolution of 1/30th arcsec and show details of the order of 200 km on the surface of Titan. To provide the best possible views, the raw data from the instrument were subjected to deconvolution (image sharpening). Images of Titan were obtained through 9 narrow-band filters, sampling near-infrared wavelengths with large variations in methane opacity. This permits sounding of different altitudes ranging from the stratosphere to the surface. Titan harbours at 1.24 and 2.12 μm a "southern smile", that is a north-south asymmetry, while the opposite situation is observed with filters probing higher altitudes, such as 1.64, 1.75 and 2.17 μm. A high-contrast bright feature is observed at the South Pole and is apparently caused by a phenomenon in the atmosphere, at an altitude below 140 km or so. This feature was found to change its location on the images from one side of the south polar axis to the other during the week of observations. Outlook An additional series of NACO observations of Titan is foreseen later this month (April 2004). These will be a great asset in helping optimize the return of the Cassini/Huygens mission. Several of the instruments aboard the spacecraft depend on such ground-based data to better infer the properties of Titan's surface and lower atmosphere. Although the astronomers have yet to model and interpret the physical and geophysical phenomena now observed and to produce a full cartography of the surface, this first analysis provides a clear demonstration of the marvellous capabilities of the NACO imaging system. More examples of the exciting science possible with this facility will be found in a series of five papers published today in the European research journal Astronomy & Astrophysics (Vol. 47, L1 to L24).

The Sky Through Three Giant Eyes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2007-02-01

AMBER Instrument on VLT Delivers a Wealth of Results The ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, which allows astronomers to scrutinise objects with a precision equivalent to that of a 130-m telescope, is proving itself an unequalled success every day. One of the latest instruments installed, AMBER, has led to a flurry of scientific results, an anthology of which is being published this week as special features in the research journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. ESO PR Photo 06a/07 ESO PR Photo 06a/07 The AMBER Instrument "With its unique capabilities, the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) has created itself a niche in which it provide answers to many astronomical questions, from the shape of stars, to discs around stars, to the surroundings of the supermassive black holes in active galaxies," says Jorge Melnick (ESO), the VLT Project Scientist. The VLTI has led to 55 scientific papers already and is in fact producing more than half of the interferometric results worldwide. "With the capability of AMBER to combine up to three of the 8.2-m VLT Unit Telescopes, we can really achieve what nobody else can do," added Fabien Malbet, from the LAOG (France) and the AMBER Project Scientist. Eleven articles will appear this week in Astronomy & Astrophysics' special AMBER section. Three of them describe the unique instrument, while the other eight reveal completely new results about the early and late stages in the life of stars. ESO PR Photo 06b/07 ESO PR Photo 06b/07 The Inner Winds of Eta Carinae The first results presented in this issue cover various fields of stellar and circumstellar physics. Two papers deal with very young solar-like stars, offering new information about the geometry of the surrounding discs and associated outflowing winds. Other articles are devoted to the study of hot active stars of particular interest: Alpha Arae, Kappa Canis Majoris, and CPD -57o2874. They provide new, precise information about their rotating gas envelopes. An important new result concerns the enigmatic object Eta Carinae. Using AMBER with its high spatial and spectral resolution, it was possible to zoom into the very heart of this very massive star. In this innermost region, the observations are dominated by the extremely dense stellar wind that totally obscures the underlying central star. The AMBER observations show that this dense stellar wind is not spherically symmetric, but exhibits a clearly elongated structure. Overall, the AMBER observations confirm that the extremely high mass loss of Eta Carinae's massive central star is non-spherical and much stronger along the poles than in the equatorial plane. This is in agreement with theoretical models that predict such an enhanced polar mass-loss in the case of rapidly rotating stars. ESO PR Photo 06c/07 ESO PR Photo 06c/07 RS Ophiuchi in Outburst Several papers from this special feature focus on the later stages in a star's life. One looks at the binary system Gamma 2 Velorum, which contains the closest example of a star known as a Wolf-Rayet. A single AMBER observation allowed the astronomers to separate the spectra of the two components, offering new insights in the modeling of Wolf-Rayet stars, but made it also possible to measure the separation between the two stars. This led to a new determination of the distance of the system, showing that previous estimates were incorrect. The observations also revealed information on the region where the winds from the two stars collide. The famous binary system RS Ophiuchi, an example of a recurrent nova, was observed just 5 days after it was discovered to be in outburst on 12 February 2006, an event that has been expected for 21 years. AMBER was able to detect the extension of the expanding nova emission. These observations show a complex geometry and kinematics, far from the simple interpretation of a spherical fireball in extension. AMBER has detected a high velocity jet probably perpendicular to the orbital plane of the binary system, and allowed a precise and careful study of the wind and the shockwave coming from the nova. The stream of results from the VLTI and AMBER is no doubt going to increase in the coming years with the availability of new functionalities. "In addition to the 8.2-m Unit Telescopes, the VLTI can also combine the light from up to 4 movable 1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes. AMBER fed by three of these AT's will be offered to the user community as of April this year, and from October we will also make FINITO available," said Melnick. "This 'fringe-tracking' device allows us to stabilise changes in the atmospheric conditions and thus to substantially improve the efficiency of the observations. By effectively 'freezing' the interferometric fringes, FINITO allows astronomers to significantly increase the exposure times." The Astronomy & Astrophysics special feature (volume 464 - March II 2007) on AMBER first results includes 11 articles. They are freely available on the A&A web site. More Information The AMBER consortium, led by Romain Petrov (Nice, France), includes researchers from the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (France), Laboratoire d'Astrophysique Universitaire de Nice (France), Max-Planck Institut für Radioastronomie (Bonn, Germany), INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Italy), and the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (Nice, France). In March 2004, the first on-line tests of AMBER (Astronomical Multiple BEam Recombiner) were completed, when astronomers combined the two beams of light from the southern star Theta Centauri from two test 40-cm aperture telescopes (ESO 07/04). It was later used to combine light from two, then three Unit Telescopes of ESO's VLT and light from the Auxiliary Telescopes. AMBER is part of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) and completes the planned set of first-generation instruments for this facility. It continues the success story of the interferometric mode of the VLT, following the unique initial scientific results obtained by the VINCI and MIDI instruments, the installation of the four MACAO adaptive optics systems and the recent arrival of the last of the four 1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes at Paranal. The principle of the interferometric technique is to combine the light collected by two or more telescopes. The greater the distance between the telescopes, the more details one can detect. For the VLTI, this distance can be up to 200 metres, providing observers with milli-arcsecond spatial resolution. With such a high spatial resolution, one would be able to distinguish between the headlights of a car located on the Moon. In addition, AMBER also provides astronomers with spectroscopic measurements, allowing the structure and the physics of the source to be constrained by comparing the measures at different wavelengths. AMBER combines the light beams from three telescopes - this is a world first for large telescopes such as the VLT. The ability to combine three beams, rather than just two as in a conventional interferometer, provides a substantial increase in the efficiency of observations, permitting astronomers to obtain three baselines simultaneously instead of one. The combination of these three baselines also permits the computation of the so-called closure phase, an important mathematical quantity that can be used in imaging applications. The AMBER instrument is mounted on a 4.2 x 1.5-m precision optical table, placed in the VLT Interferometric Laboratory at the top of the Paranal mountain. The total shipping weight of the instrument and its extensive associated electronics was almost 4 tons. Two of the results discussed here were already presented as ESO press releases in ESO 29/05 and 35/06.

Giant Eyes for the VLT Interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2001-11-01

First Scientific Results with Combined Light Beams from Two 8.2-m Unit Telescopes Summary It started as a preparatory technical experiment and it soon developed into a spectacular success. Those astronomers and engineers who were present in the control room that night now think of it as the scientific dawn of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) . On October 29, 2001, ANTU and MELIPAL , two of the four VLT 8.2-m Unit Telescopes at the ESO Paranal Observatory, were linked for the first time. Light from the southern star Achernar (Alpha Eridani) was captured by the two telescopes and sent to a common focus in the observatory's Interferometric Laboratory. Following careful adjustments of the optical paths, interferometric fringes were soon recorded there, proving that the beams from the two telescopes had been successfully combined "in phase" . From an analysis of the observed pattern (the "fringe contrast"), the angular diameter of Achernar was determined to be 1.9 milli-arcsec. At the star's distance (145 light-years), this corresponds to a size of 13 million km. The observation is equivalent to measuring the size of a 4-metre long car on the surface of the Moon. This result marks the exciting starting point for operations with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and it was immediately followed up by other scientific observations. Among these were the first measurements of the diameters of three red dwarf stars ("Kapteyn's star" - HD 33793, HD 217987 and HD 36395), a precise determination of the variable diameters of the pulsating Cepheid stars Beta Doradus and Zeta Geminorum (of great importance for the calibration of the universal distance scale), as well as a first interferometric measurement of the core of Eta Carinae , an intriguing, massive southern object that may possibly become the next supernova in our galaxy. This milestone is another important step towards the ultimate goal of the VLT project - to combine all four 8.2-m telescopes into the most powerful optical/infrared telescope system on Earth. When ready, it will be able to reveal at least 15 times finer details in astronomical objects than what is possible with any existing, single ground-based telescope. PR Photo 30a/01 : Overview of the VLT Interferometer . PR Photo 30b/01 : "Joint" stellar light-spot produced via ANTU and MELIPAL at the VLTI focus. PR Photo 30c/01 : Interferometric fringes from the star Achernar . PR Photo 30d/01 : Time sequence of fringes from Achernar. PR Photo 30e/01 : "Visibility curve" of the star Psi Phoenicis . Scientific Appendix First VLTI observations with two 8.2-m telescopes ESO PR Photo 30a/01 ESO PR Photo 30a/01 [Preview - JPEG: 357 x 400 pix - 82k] [Normal - JPEG: 713 x 800 pix - 208k] [Hi-Res - JPEG: 2673 x 3000 pix - 1.4M] ESO PR Photo 30b/01 ESO PR Photo 30b/01 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 350 pix - 57k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 700 pix - 176k] Caption : PR Photo 30a/01 : Overview of the VLT Interferometer as it was operated when the light beams from two of the 8.2-m telescopes were combined. The VINCI instrument that was used for the present test, is located at the common focus in the Interferometric Laboratory. PR Photo 30b/01 shows one of the first "joint" light-spots from a star as seen at this VLTI focus and resulting from the superposition of light collected with the 8.2-m VLT ANTU and MELIPAL telescopes. Despite the long optical paths (about 200 m), the quality is excellent (FWHM = 0.45 arcsec). Note that this is not (yet) an image of the stellar surface. At 1 o'clock in the morning of October 30, 2001, ESO astronomers and engineers working in the VLTI Control Room successfully combined the light from ANTU and MELIPAL , two of the four 8.2-m VLT Unit Telescopes at the Paranal Observatory. The same night, a series of high-resolution test observations with the VINCI instrument [1] at the focus of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI) proved that this complex system was functioning extremely well, and within the technical specifications . Following about seven months after the moment of "VLTI first light" during which the light beams from two small test telescopes were combined - as described in detail in ESO Press Release 06/01 - this accomplishment above all serves as a demonstration of the possibilities and potential of interferometric observations with the four giant VLT telescopes. The two large telescopes used for the present test are separated by 102 metres. In order to properly combine the starlight received by them, a train of 25 mirrors is needed . All of them must be adjusted with a precision of one thousandth of a millimetre or better. As can be seen on PR Photo 30a/01 , the light from the observed star is first directed towards the Nasmyth focus by three mirrors in the telescope tube. From here, it continues towards the intermediate Coudé focus below the telescope and then onwards through a subterranean light duct to the VLTI Delay Lines that are installed in the Interferometric Tunnel . At the end of this long chain of mirrors and after traveling a distance of approximately 200 metres, the light finally reaches the VINCI instrument in which the two beams interact coherently (in phase) to produce "interferometric fringes". The tests have shown that the starlight arrives at the VINCI instrument with a pointing accuracy of about 1 arcsecond and, even more important, with a long-term tracking stability of the order of 0.2 arcseconds per hour. In fact, the image quality measured at the focus of VINCI is essentially identical to that of the individual telescopes at the Nasmyth (and Cassegrain) foci. Stellar images as sharp as 0.4 arcsec (note that this is the size of the "seeing disk" FWHM, not yet a real image of the stellar surface; the VLTI will start producing two-dimensional images of stars and other objects at a later stage) have been obtained at the interferometric focus, cf. PR Photo 30b/01 . The installation of an Adaptive Optics system (see below) will later reduce the image size to the theoretical limit of 0.057 arcsec (for observations with an 8.2-m telescope in the infrared K-band at wavelength 2.2 µm (or 0.032 arcsec in the J-band at 1.2 µm). First scientific results already during the test observations ESO PR Photo 30c/01 ESO PR Photo 30c/01 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 368 pix - 50k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 736 pix - 136k] ESO PR Photo 30d/01 ESO PR Photo 30d/01 [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 332 pix - 168k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 663 pix - 440k] Caption : PR Photo 30c/01 shows the interferometric fringes of the star Achernar , as observed on the computer screen in the VLTI Control Room, at the moment of "First Light" with two 8.2-m VLT telescopes. PR Photo 30d/01 displays the time evolution of the interferometric fringes obtained on Achernar . Each horizontal scan represents a recorded fringe pattern, with time running vertically from bottom to top. PR Photo 30c/01 was extracted from one of these scans. The technical demonstration being so successful, the ESO astronomers and engineers involved in the development of the VLTI immediately decided to go one step further. And indeed, the interferometric fringes recorded with the light beams from two 8.2-m VLT telescopes during these initial technical tests have already led to some very valuable scientific results. The first star to be observed - the brightest star in the southern constellation Eridanus (The River) and known as Alpha Eridani or Achernar - is quite different from our Sun. It is estimated to be several times more massive and, with a surface temperature of about 20000 degrees, it is about three times hotter than our local star. The distance to Achernar has been measured by the ESA HIPPARCOS satellite as about 145 light-years, and from its apparent brightness, it is found to be almost 1000 times more luminous than the Sun. Consequently, it depletes its energy resources much faster and has a much shorter life expectancy (about 100 million years) than the Sun (about 10,000 million years). The new measurement with the VLTI found the angular diameter of Achernar to be 0.00192 ± 0.00005 arcsec . This is equivalent to the angle subtended by a 1 Euro coin (diameter 23.25 mm) as seen from a distance of 2500 km, or by a car (4 metres long) on the surface of the Moon. At the indicated distance, this angle also shows that the real size of Achernar is about 13 million kilometres, and that it is therefore nearly ten times larger than our Sun. Following that first observation, and in spite of the many technical tests scheduled at this moment of the VLTI commissioning work, the astronomers were able to carry out several other scientific observations. During this exciting first period of operation, among others, measurements were made of three red dwarf stars, three stars surrounded by disks, one red giant star, two Cepheid stars and one luminous blue variable star. Preliminary results from some of these observations are described in the Appendix. Angular measurements with the VLTI like the present ones will soon become routine and will allow astronomers to measure accurately the physical characteristics of many different types of stars. For instance, the precise measurement of the angular diameter of Achernar will make it possible to deduce directly and accurately its surface temperature, an important information for our understanding of the formation and evolution of such hot and massive stars. From 40-cm to 8.2-m The present event follows after half a year of much hard work by ESO astronomers and engineers. Earlier this year, the VLTI achieved "first fringes" by combining two small 40-cm siderostat telescopes ( ESO PR 06/01 ). Since then, ESO astronomers and engineers have upgraded the VLTI and are preparing it for regular observations that will start next year. The present results obtained with the combination of two giant telescopes constitute one important milestone along this road. Between March and October 2001, about 1000 individual measurements were carried out on celestial objects with the light beams from the small test telescopes. This process is on-going, as part of the commissioning of the VLTI, and is aimed at a detailed technical characterization of the interferometer and thorough knowledge of its performance. Such observations mainly serve to obtain technical data. Nevertheless, some of them also provide interesting scientific results . For example, during the week just prior to the first fringes now achieved with two large telescopes, nearly 150 measurements were obtained over 4 nights. Among them, five Mira stars (a type of large and cool, pulsating stars) and two close binary stellar systems were observed - some of them had never before been studied interferometrically. Moreover, a large number of objects were observed for calibration. These data are now being evaluated, and will help astronomers to refine their understanding of the capabilities of the VLTI - they will soon become available to the astronomical community via the VLT archive. In the same period, substantial additions were made to the system, e.g., a third Delay Line was installed in the Interferometric Tunnel. This allows the use of the telescopes on the east side of the beam combination laboratory (including MELIPAL) and also to combine the light beams from up to three telescopes at a later moment. The additional mirrors needed in order to permit the combination of the light from the two 8.2-m telescopes were installed. The extensive software that controls the telescopes and the instruments has undergone several revisions to accommodate the increased needs required by the more complex system of Unit Telescopes, delay lines and test instruments. At the same time, the overall reliability of the facility has been constantly improved. The path that the light travels from the two 8.2-m telescopes to the VINCI instrument must be kept constant to within a fraction of a micron , or better than one thousandth of a millimetre! Although it is therefore extremely sensitive to even very small disturbances, the VLT Interferometer has proven to be remarkably reliable and robust. For instance, an earthquake of magnitude 4+ on the Richter scale happened in August 2001 in the middle of a series of interferometric measurements. However, thanks to the many safeguards and compensatory measures built into the system, the VLTI continued to function all through the tremor. The observations were barely affected by the ground vibrations. It should also be noted that, unlike the 40-cm siderostat telescopes, the 8.2-m telescopes are so large that the images they produce are significantly affected by atmospheric turbulence. In order to overcome this problem, ESO is now developing a system of "Adaptive Optics" correctors ( MACAO ) which will "remove" the distortions introduced by the atmospheres by means of small, rapidly reacting computer-controlled deformable mirrors. From 2003, this system will increase the sensitivity of the VLTI by a factor of about 100 (5 magnitudes) compared to the present observations without adaptive optics. VLT Instrumentation The next steps in the VLTI project will be the integration of a new instrument working at a wavelength of 10 µm (the Mid-Infrared interferometric instrument for the VLTI (MIDI) ) in the middle of 2002, the addition of a fringe tracker ( FINITO ) and then of a 3-way, 3-photometric bands instrument (the near-infrared/red VLTI focal instrument (AMBER) ) at the beginning of 2003. Following closely will be the addition of three 1.8-m movable telescopes dedicated to interferometry, and of the Adaptive Optics system. With all these components in place, the VLTI will represent the most powerful interferometer available in the southern hemisphere, and will enable scientific investigations on a wide range of topics ranging from the direct detection of planets around other stars, to the formation and early evolution of stars, to the study of extragalactic objects. A dedication to Ariela Rijo On behalf of the staff, the Director of the Paranal Observatory adds this message: "The Paranal Observatory, while very pleased at the present success of the first fringes from two of the 8.2-m telescopes, at the same time is greatly saddened by the loss of our colleague Ariela Rijo who passed away on October 31" . "She was a wonderful person and an excellent colleague who contributed greatly to the implementation of the VLTI on Paranal. The Paranal Observatory dedicates this result to her memory". Note [1]: The VINCI instrument was built under ESO contract at the Observatoire de Paris (France) and the camera in this instrument was delivered by the MPI for Extraterrestrial Physics (Garching, Germany). The detector and the detector electronics was supplied by ESO. Scientific Appendix: First VLTI stellar measurements with two UTs ESO PR Photo 30e/01 ESO PR Photo 30e/01 [Preview - JPEG: 343 x 400 pix - 39k] [Normal - JPEG: 686 x 800 pix - 82k] Caption : PR Photo 30d/01 shows the "visibility curve" for the red giant star Psi Phoenicis as measured on two nights (16 data sets; three points to the right) with two VLT UTs (ANTU + MELIPAL) for three different positions in the sky and on four nights with the 40-cm test siderostats on a shorter 16-m baseline (8 data sets; one point to the left); see the text below. From the fitted curve, a preliminary value of the angular diameter is 8.21 ± 0.02 milli-arcsec (mas). This appendix presents some technical details of the measurements, obtained with the VLTI and two UTs during the first three test nights. While it must be emphasized that the stated results are still provisional, they clearly indicate the excellent performance of the VLTI already at this early stage and, not least, the great potential for important fundamental observations with this facility. Note in particular, that the quoted errors reflect the statistical uncertainty in the data only and that additional calibration errors must later be taken into account. The observational data were taken on a variety of astronomical objects, including three red dwarfs, three stars surrounded by disks, one red giant, two Cepheids and one luminous blue variable. All of these measurements were calibrated by observing a reference star of known angular size. Each data set required about ten minutes of continuous observations. Fringes were found on all pointed objects within a few minutes of time and kept for up to several hours. All data were deemed to be of high quality and will be analyzed in detail within the next weeks. A preliminary data reduction was possible for part of these objects and it gave the results listed below (all quoted values are uniform disk diameters): * For the blue dwarf Alpha Eridani , on which first fringes were found, 11 data sets were taken within three nights and an angular diameter of 1.92 ± 0.05 milli-arcsec (mas) could be estimated, which is precisely in line with previous measurements. * The nearby red dwarf HD 217987 was measured to have a diameter of 0.92 ± 0.05 mas, resulting from two data sets. This is the first measurement of the angular diameter of a star as small as a type M0 dwarf , and one of the very few available for cool main sequence stars in general. * The giant star HD 36167 was found from four data sets to have a diameter of 3.32 ± 0.02 mas. This measurement constitutes a significant refinement of the earlier, indirect estimate of 3.55 ± 0.06 mas (Cohen M. et al. 1999, Astronomical Journal 117, 1864). * For the three stars which are known to be surrounded by a disk, the following results were obtained: Epsilon Eridani 2.20 ± 0.02 mas (8 data sets in two nights); Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini) 2.31 ± 0.02 mas (4 data sets); Beta Pictoris unresolved (4 data sets). Further analysis is expected to put a significant lower limit on the visibility for the latter star. * The two Cepheids Zeta Geminorum and Beta Doradus showed diameters of 1.78 ± 0.02 mas (7 data sets) and 2.00 ± 0.04 mas (6 data sets), respectively. The diameter of Zeta Geminorum has been measured before by three different interferometers. Its diameter is expected to vary between about 1.5 mas and 1.8 mas within ten days. On the date the VLTI data was taken, its phase was close to the foreseen maximum diameter. Beta Doradus has never been measured before. * The red giant Psi Phoenicis was measured on two nights (16 data sets) with the UTs for three different positions in the sky, hence with three different projected baselines. Some weeks earlier it had been measured on four nights with the 40-cm test siderostats (8 data sets) on a shorter 16-m baseline. The star was well resolved already in the previous measurements, but the addition of the data recently obtained with the UTs is of fundamental importance because with their longer baseline and larger light-gathering power, it now becomes possible to obtain visibility measurements beyond the first null, cf. PR Photo 30e/01 . Such measurements in the future will enable astronomers to measure fine details such as limb-darkening and deviations from spherical symmetry. The preliminary diameter value for this star is 8.21 ± 0.02 mas. * The enigmatic object Eta Carinae is a luminous blue variable, a supermassive star, which underwent a massive outburst in the 1840's. This outburst was responsible for the creation of the surrounding Homunculus Nebula . The central object is not well understood, but is likely to have a complex structure and therefore the first interferometric measurement with the VLTI is of great importance. Fringes with a low contrast (amplitude of about 20%) were detected, indicating that the central object is resolved on a scale of a few milliarcseconds. More observations will be obtained to further investigate this peculiar object.

SINFONI Opens with Upbeat Chords

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2004-08-01

First Observations with New VLT Instrument Hold Great Promise [1] Summary The European Southern Observatory, the Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (Garching, Germany) and the Nederlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie (Leiden, The Netherlands), and with them all European astronomers, are celebrating the successful accomplishment of "First Light" for the Adaptive Optics (AO) assisted SINFONI ("Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observation in the Near-Infrared") instrument, just installed on ESO's Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory (Chile). This is the first facility of its type ever installed on an 8-m class telescope, now providing exceptional observing capabilities for the imaging and spectroscopic studies of very complex sky regions, e.g. stellar nurseries and black-hole environments, also in distant galaxies. Following smooth assembly at the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope of SINFONI's two parts, the Adaptive Optics Module that feeds the SPIFFI spectrograph, the "First Light" spectrum of a bright star was recorded with SINFONI in the early evening of July 9, 2004. The following thirteen nights served to evaluate the performance of the new instrument and to explore its capabilities by test observations on a selection of exciting astronomical targets. They included the Galactic Centre region, already imaged with the NACO AO-instrument on the same telescope. Unprecedented high-angular resolution spectra and images were obtained of stars in the immediate vicinity of the massive central black hole. During the night of July 15 - 16, SINFONI recorded a flare from this black hole in great detail. Other interesting objects observed during this period include galaxies with active nuclei (e.g., the Circinus Galaxy and NGC 7469), a merging galaxy system (NGC 6240) and a young starforming galaxy pair at redshift 2 (BX 404/405). These first results were greeted with enthusiasm by the team of astronomers and engineers [2] from the consortium of German and Dutch Institutes and ESO who have worked on the development of SINFONI for nearly 7 years. The work on SINFONI at Paranal included successful commissioning in June 2004 of the Adaptive Optics Module built by ESO, during which exceptional test images were obtained of the main-belt asteroid (22) Kalliope and its moon. Moreover, the ability was demonstrated to correct the atmospheric turbulence by means of even very faint "guide" objects (magnitude 17.5), crucial for the observation of astronomical objects in many parts of the sky. SPIFFI - SPectrometer for Infrared Faint Field Imaging - was developed at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) in Garching (Germany), in a collaboration with the Nederlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie (NOVA) in Leiden and the Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy (ASTRON), and ESO. PR Photo 24a/04: SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module at VLT Yepun (June 2004) PR Photo 24b/04: SINFONI at VLT Yepun, now fully assembled (July 2004) PR Photo 24c/04: "First Light" image from the SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module PR Photo 24d/04: AO-corrected Image of a 17.5-magnitude Star PR Photo 24e/04: SINFONI undergoing Balancing and Flexure Tests at VLT Yepun PR Photo 24f/04: SINFONI "First Light" Spectrum of HD 130163 PR Photo 24g/04: Members of the SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module Commissioning Team PR Photo 24h/04: Members of the SPIFFI Commissioning Team PR Photo 24i/04: The Principle of Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) PR Photo 24j/04: The Orbital Motion of Linus around (22) Kalliope PR Photo 24k/04: SINFONI Observations of the Galactic Centre Region PR Photo 24l/04: SINFONI Observations of the Circinus Galaxy PR Photo 24m/04: SINFONI Observations of the AGN Galaxy NGC 7469 PR Photo 24n/04: SINFONI Observations of NGC 6240 PR Photo 24o/04: SINFONI Observations of the Young Starforming Galaxies BX 404/405 PR Video Clip 07/04: The Orbital Motion of Linus around (22) Kalliope SINFONI: A powerful and complex instrument ESO PR Photo 24a/04 ESO PR Photo 24a/04 The SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module Commissioning Setup [Preview - JPEG: 427 x 400 pix - 230k] [Normal - JPEG: 854 x 800 pix - 551k] ESO PR Photo 24b/04 ESO PR Photo 24b/04 SINFONI at the VLT Yepun Cassegrain Focus [Preview - JPEG: 414 x 400 pix - 222k] [Normal - JPEG: 827 x 800 pix - 574k] Captions: ESO PR Photo 24a/04 shows the SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module, installed at the 8.2-m VLT YEPUN telescope during the first tests in June 2004. At this time, SPIFFI was not yet installed. The blue ring is the Adaptive Optics Module. The yellow parts, with a weight of 800 kg, simulate SPIFFI. The IR Test Imager is located inside the yellow ring. On ESO PR Photo 24b/04, the Near-Infrared Spectrograph SPIFFI in its cryogenic aluminium cylinder has now been attached. A new and very powerful astronomical instrument, a world-leader in its field, has been installed on the Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory (Chile), cf. PR Photos 24a-b/04. Known as SINFONI ("Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observation in the Near-Infrared"), it was mounted in two steps at the Cassegrain focus of the 8.2-m VLT YEPUN telescope. First Light of the completed instrument was achieved on July 9, 2004 and various test observations during the subsequent commissioning phase were carried out with great success. SINFONI has two parts, the Near Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph, also known as SPIFFI (SPectrometer for Infrared Faint Field Imaging), and the Adaptive Optics Module. SPIFFI was developed at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) (Garching, Germany), in a collaboration with the Nederlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie (NOVA) in Leiden, the Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy (ASTRON) (The Netherlands), and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) (Garching, Germany). The Adaptive Optics (AO) Module was developed by ESO. Once fully commissioned, SINFONI will provide adaptive-optics assisted Integral Field Spectroscopy in the near-infrared 1.1 - 2.45 µm waveband. This advanced technique provides simultaneous spectra of numerous adjacent regions in a small sky field, e.g., of an interstellar nebula, the stars in a dense stellar cluster or a galaxy. Astronomers refer to these data as "3D-spectra" or "data cubes" (i.e., one spectrum for each small area in the two-dimensional sky field), cf. Appendix A. The SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module is based on a 60-element curvature system, similar to the Multi Application Curvature Adaptive Optics devices (MACAO), developed by the ESO Adaptive Optics Department and of which three have already been installed at the VLT (ESO PR 11/03); the last one in August 2004. Provided a sufficiently bright reference source ("guide star") is available within 60 arcsec of the observed field, the SINFONI AO module will ultimately offer diffraction-limited images (resolution 0.050 arcsec) at a wavelength of 2 µm. At the centre of the field, partial correction can be performed with guide stars as faint as magnitude 17.5. In about 6-months' time, it will benefit from a sodium Laser Guide Star, achieving a much better sky coverage than what is now possible. SPIFFI is a fully cryogenic near-infrared integral field spectrograph allowing observers to obtain simultaneously spectra of 2048 pixels within a 64 x 32 pixel field-of-view. In conjunction with the AO Module, it performs spectroscopy with slit-width sampling at the diffraction limit of an 8-m class telescope. For observations of very faint, extended celestial objects, the spatial resolution can be degraded so that both sensitivity and field-of-view are increased. SPIFFI works in the near-infrared wavelength range (1.1 - 2.45 µm) with a moderate spectral resolving power (R = 1500 to 4500). More information about the way SPIFFI functions will be found in Appendix A. "First Light with SINFONI's Adaptive Optics Module ESO PR Photo 24c/04 ESO PR Photo 24c/04 SINFONI AO "First Light" Image [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 482 pix - 106k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 963 pix - 256k] ESO PR Photo 24d/04 ESO PR Photo 24d/04 AO-corrected image of 17.5-magnitude Star [Preview - JPEG: 509 x 400 pix - 80k] [Normal - JPEG: 1018 x 800 pix - 182k] Captions: ESO PR Photo 24c/04 shows the "First Light" image obtained with the SINFONI AO Module and a high-angular-resolution near-infrared Test Camera during the night of May 31 - June 1, 2004. The magnitude of the observed star is 11 and the seeing conditions median. The diffraction limit at wavelength 2.2 µm of the 8.2-m telescope (FWHM 0.06 arcsec) was reached and is indicated by the bar. ESO PR Photo 24d/04: Image of a very faint guide star (visual magnitude 17.5), obtained with the SINFONI AO Module. To the right, the seeing-limited K-band image (FWHM 0.38 arcsec). To the left, the AO-corrected image (FWHM 0.145 arcsec). The ability to perform AO corrections on very faint guide objects is essential for SINFONI in order to observe very faint extragalactic objects. Because of the complexity of SINFONI, with its two modules, it was decided to perform the installation on the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope in two steps. The Adaptive Optics module was completely dismounted at ESO-Garching (Germany) and the corresponding 6 tons of equipment was air-freighted from Frankfurt to Santiago de Chile. The subsequent transport by road arrived at the Paranal Observatory on April 21, 2004. After 6 weeks of reintegration and testing in the Integration Hall, the AO Module was mounted on Yepun on May 30 - 31, together with a high-angular-resolution near-infrared Test Camera, cf. PR Photo 24a/04. Technical "First-Light" with this system was achieved around midnight on May 31st by observing a 11-magnitude star, cf. PR Photo 24c/04, reaching right away the theoretical diffraction limit of the 8.2-m telescope (0.06 arcsec) at this wavelength (2.2 µm). Following this early success, the ESO AO team continued the full on-sky tuning and testing of the AO Module until June 8, setting in particular a new world record by reaching a limiting guide-star magnitude of 17.5, two-and-a-half magnitudes (a factor of 10) fainter than ever achieved with any telescope! The ability to perform AO corrections on very faint guide objects is essential for SINFONI in order to observe very faint extragalactic objects. During this commissioning period, test observations were performed of the binary asteroid (22) Kalliope and its moon Linus. They were made by the ESO AO team and served to demonstrate the high performance of this ESO-built Adaptive Optics (AO) system at near-infrared wavelengths. More information about these observations, including a movie of the orbital motion of Linus is available in Appendix B. "First Light" with SINFONI ESO PR Photo 24e/04 ESO PR Photo 24e/04 SINFONI Undergoing Balancing and Flexure Tests at VLT Yepun [Preview - JPEG: 427 x 400 pix - 269k] [Normal - JPEG: 854 x 800 pix - 730k] ESO PR Photo 24f/04 ESO PR Photo 24f/04 SINFONI "First Light" Spectrum [Preview - JPEG: 427 x 400 pix - 94k] [Normal - JPEG: 854 x 800 pix - 222k] Captions: ESO PR Photo 24e/04 shows SINFONI attached to the Cassegrain focus of the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope during balancing and flexure tests. ESO PR Photo 24f/04: "First Light" "data cube" spectrum obtained with SINFONI on the bright star HD 130163 on July 9, 2004, as seen on the science data computer screen. This 7th-magnitude A0 V star was observed in the near-infrared H-band with a moderate seeing of 0.8 arcsec. The width of the slitlets in this image is 0.25 arcsec. The exposure time was 1 second. The fully integrated SPIFFI module was air-freighted from Frankfurt to Santiago de Chile and arrived at Paranal on June 5, 2004. The subsequent cool-down to -195 °C was done and an extensive test programme was carried through during the next two weeks. Meanwhile, the AO Module was removed from the telescope and the "wedding" with SPIFFI was celebrated on June 20 in the Paranal Integration Hall. All went well and the first AO-corrected test spectra were obtained immediately thereafter. The extensive tests of SINFONI continued at this site until July 7, 2004, when the instrument was declared fit for work at the telescope. The installation at the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope was then accomplished on July 8 - 9, cf. PR Photos 24b/04 and 24e/04. "First Light" was achieved in the early evening of July 9, 2004, only 30 min after the telescope enclosure was opened. At 19:30 local time, SINFONI recorded the first AO-corrected "data cube" with spectra of HD 130163, cf. PR Photo 24f/04. This 7th-magnitude star was observed in the near-infrared H-band with a moderate seeing of 0.8 arcsec. Test Observations with SINFONI ESO PR Photo 24k/04 ESO PR Photo 24k/04 SINFONI Observations of the Galactic Centre [Preview - JPEG: 427 x 400 pix - 213k] [Normal - JPEG: 854 x 800 pix - 511k] ESO PR Photo 24o/04 ESO PR Photo 24o/04 SINFONI Observations of the Distant Galaxy Pair BX 404/405 [Preview - JPEG: 481 x 400 pix - 86k] [Normal - JPEG: 962 x 800 pix - 251k] Captions: ESO PR Photo 24k/04: The coloured image (background) shows a three-band composite image (H, K, and L-bands) obtained with the AO imager NACO on the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope. On July 15, 2004, the new SINFONI instrument, mounted at the Cassegrain focus of the same telescope, observed the innermost region (the central 1 x 1 arcsec) of the Milky Way Galaxy in the combined H+K band (1.45 - 2.45 µm) during a total of 110 min "on-source". The insert (upper left) shows the immediate neighbourhood of the central black hole as seen with SINFONI. The position of the black hole is marked with a yellow circle. Later in the night (03:37 UT on July 16), a flare from the black hole ocurred (a zoom-in is shown in the insert at the lower left) and the first-ever infrared spectrum of this phenomenon was observed. It was also possible to register for the first time in great detail the near-infrared spectra of young massive stars orbiting the black hole; some of these are shown in the inserts at the upper right; stars are identified by their "S"-designations. The lower right inserts show the spectra of stars in "IRS 13 E", a very compact cluster of very young and massive stars, located about 3.5 arcsec to the south-west of the black hole. The wavefront reference ("guide") star employed for these AO observations is comparably faint (red magnitude approx. 15), and it is located about 20 arcsec away from the field centre. The seeing during these observations was about 0.6 arcsec. The width of the slitlets was 0.025 arcsec. See Appendix G for more detail. ESO PR Photo 24o/04 shows the distant galaxy pair BX 404/405, as recorded in the K-band (wavelength 2 µm, centered on the redshifted H-alpha line), without AO-correction because of the lack of a nearby, sufficiently bright "guide" star. The width of each slitlet was 0.25 arcsec and the seeing about 0.6 arcsec. The integration time on the galaxy was 2 hours "on-source". The image shown has been reconstructed by combining all of the spectral elements around the H-alpha spectral line. The spectrum of BX 405 (upper right) clearly reveals signs of a velocity shear while that of BX 404 does not. This may be a sign of rotation, a possible signature of a young disc in this galaxy. More information can be found in Appendix C. Until July 22, test observations on a number of celestial objects were performed in order to tune the instrument, to evaluate the performance and to demonstrate its astronomical capabilities. In particular, spectra were obtained of various highly interesting celestial objects and sky regions. Details about these observations (and some images obtained with the AO Module alone) are available in the Appendices to this Press Release: * a video of the motion of the moon Linus around the main-belt asteroid (22) Kalliope, providing the best view of this binary system obtained so far (Appendix B), * images and first-ever detailed spectra of many of the stars that move near the massive black hole at the Galactic Centre, with crucial information on the nature of the individual stars and their motions (Appendix C), * images and spectra of the heavily dust-obscured, active centre of the Circinus galaxy, one of the closest active galaxies, showing ordered rotation in this area and distinct broad and narrow components of the spectral line of Ca7+-ions (Appendix D), * images and spectra of the less obscured central area of NGC 7469, a more distant active galaxy, with spectral lines of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide showing a very different distribution of these species (Appendix E), * images and spectra of the Infrared Luminous Galaxy (ULIRG) NGC 6240, a typical galaxy merger, displaying important differences between the two nuclei (Appendix F), and * images and spectra of the young starforming galaxies BX 404/405, casting more light on the formation of disks in spiral galaxies (Appendix G) The SINFONI Teams ESO PR Photo 24g/04 ESO PR Photo 24g/04 Members of the SINFONI Adaptive Optics Commissioning Team [Preview - JPEG: 646 x 400 pix - 198k] [Normal - JPEG: 1291 x 800 pix - 618k] ESO PR Photo 24h/04 ESO PR Photo 24h/04 Members of the SPIFFI Commissioning Team [Preview - JPEG: 491 x 400 pix - 193k] [Normal - JPEG: 982 x 800 pix - 482k] Captions: ESO PR Photo 24g/04 Members of the SINFONI Adaptice Optics Commissioning Team in the VLT Control Room in the night between June 7 - 8, 2004. From left to right and top to bottom: Thomas Szeifert, Sebastien Tordo, Stefan Stroebele, Jerome Paufique, Chris Lidman, Robert Donaldson, Enrico Fedrigo, Markus Kissler Patig, Norbert Hubin, Henri Bonnet. ESO PR Photo 24h/04: Members of the SPIFFI Commissioning Team on August 17. From left to right, Roberto Abuter, Frank Eisenhauer, Andrea Gilbert and Matthew Horrobin. The first SINFONI results have been greeted with enthusiasm, in particular by the team of astronomers and engineers from the consortium of German and Dutch institutes and ESO who worked on the development of SINFONI for nearly 7 years. Some of the members of the Commissioning Teams are depicted in PR Photos 24g/04 and 24h/04; in addition to the SPIFFI team members present on the second photo, Walter Bornemann, Reinhard Genzel, Hans Gemperlein, Stefan Huber have also been working on the reintegration/commissioning in Paranal. Notes [1] This press release is issued in coordination between ESO, the Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, Germany, and the Nederlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie in Leiden, The Netherlands. A German version is available at http://www.mpg.de/bilderBerichteDokumente/dokumentation/pressemitteilungen/2004/pressemitteilung20040824/index.html and a Dutch version at http://www.astronomy.nl/inhoud/pers/persberichten/30_08_04.html. [2] The SINFONI team consists of Roberto Abuter, Andrew Baker, Walter Bornemann, Ric Davies, Frank Eisenhauer (SPIFFI Principal Investigator), Hans Gemperlein, Reinhard Genzel (MPE Director), Andrea Gilbert, Armin Goldbrunner, Matthew Horrobin, Stefan Huber, Christof Iserlohe, Matthew Lehnert, Werner Lieb, Dieter Lutz, Nicole Nesvadba, Claudia Röhrle, Jürgen Schreiber, Linda Tacconi, Matthias Tecza, Niranjan Thatte, Harald Weisz (Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany), Anthony Brown, Paul van der Werf (NOVA, Leiden, The Netherlands), Eddy Elswijk, Johan Pragt, Jan Kragt, Gabby Kroes, Ton Schoenmaker, Rik ter Horst (ASTRON, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands), Henri Bonnet (SINFONI Project Manager), Roberto Castillo, Ralf Conzelmann, Romuald Damster, Bernard Delabre, Christophe Dupuy, Robert Donaldson, Christophe Dumas, Enrico Fedrigo, Gert Finger, Gordon Gillet, Norbert Hubin (Head of Adaptive Optics Dept.), Andreas Kaufer, Franz Koch, Johann Kolb, Andrea Modigliani, Guy Monnet (Head of Telescope Systems Division), Chris Lidman, Jochen Liske, Jean Louis Lizon, Markus Kissler-Patig (SINFONI Instrument Scientist), Jerome Paufique, Juha Reunanen, Silvio Rossi, Riccardo Schmutzer, Armin Silber, Stefan Ströbele (SINFONI System Engineer), Thomas Szeifert, Sebastien Tordo, Leander Mehrgan, Joerg Stegmeier, Reinhold Dorn (European Southern Observatory). Contacts Frank Eisenhauer Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) Garching, Germany Phone: +49-89-30000-3563 Email: eisenhau@mpe.mpg.de Paul van der Werf Leiden Observatory Leiden, The Netherlands Phone: +31-71-5275883 Email: pvdwerf@strw.leidenuniv.nl Henri Bonnet European Southern Observatory (ESO) Email: hbonnet@eso.org Reinhard Genzel Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) Garching, Germany Phone: +49-89-30000-3280 Email: Norbert Hubin European Southern Observatory (ESO) Email: nhubin@eso.org Appendix A: Integral Field Spectroscopy as a Powerful Discovery Tool ESO PR Photo 24i/04 ESO PR Photo 24i/04 How Integral Field Spectroscopy Works [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 425 pix - 127k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 850 pix - 366k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24i/04 shows the principle of Integrated Field Spectroscopy (IFS). The detailed explanation is found in the text. How does SINFONI work? What is Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS)? The idea of IFS is to obtain a spectrum of each defined spatial element ("spaxel") in the field-of-view. Several techniques to do this are available - in SINFONI, the slicer principle is applied. This involves (PR Photo 24i/04) that * the two-dimensional field-of-view is cut into slices, the so-called slitlets (short slits in contrast to normal long-slit spectroscopy), * the slitlets are then arranged next to each other to form a pseudo-long-slit, * a grating is used to disperse the light, and * the photons are detected with a Near-InfraRed detector. Following data reduction, the set of generated spectra can be re-arranged in the computer to form a 3-dimensional "data cube" of two spatial, and one wavelength dimension. Thus the term "3D-Spectroscopy" is sometimes used for IFS. Appendix B: Linus' orbital motion around Kalliope ESO PR Photo 24j/04 ESO PR Photo 24j/04 Asteroid Kalliope and its Moon Linus [Preview - JPEG: 400 x 427 pix - 50k] [Normal - JPEG: 800 x 854 pix - 136k] ESO PR Video 07/04 ESO PR Video 07/04 The Motion of Linus around Kalliope [MPG: 800 x 800 pix - 128k] [AVI : 800 x 800 pix - 176k] [Animated GIF : 800 x 800 pix - 592k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24j/04 and Video Clip 07/04 show the best-ever images of the moon Linus orbiting Asteroid (22) Kalliope. It was obtained with the SINFONI Adaptive Optics Module and a high-angular-resolution near-infrared Test Camera during commissioning in June 2004. At minimum separation, the satellite approaches Kalliope to 0.33 arcsec, i.e. the angle under which a 1 Euro coin is seen at a distance of 15 kilometers. At maximum separation, the angular distance is nearly twice as large. For clarity, the brightness of the asteroid has been artificially decreased by a factor of 15, to the level of the moon. This image processing technique also permits to perceive the variation of the asteroid's shape as Kalliope spins around its own axis with a period of 4.15 hours. The asteroid, with an angular diameter of 0.11 arcsec, is barely resolved in these VLT images (resolution 0.06 arcsec at wavelength 2.2 µm). The satellite measures about 50 km acroos and orbits Kalliope at a distance of about 1000 kilometers. ESO Video Clip 07/04 shows the 3.6-day orbital motion of the satellite (moon) Linus around the main-belt asteroid (22) Kalliope. Kalliope orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter; it measures about 180 km across and the diameter of its moon is 50 km. This system was observed with the SINFONI AO Module for short periods over four consecutive nights. Linus moves around Kalliope in a circular orbit, at a distance of 1000 km and with a direction of motion similar to the rotation of Kalliope (prograde rotation); the orbital plane of the moon was seen under a 60°-angle with respect to the line-of-sight. The unobserved parts of this orbit are indicated by a dotted line. A hypothetical observer on the surface of Kalliope would live in a strange world: the days would be 14 hours long, and the sky would be filled by a moon five times bigger than our own! The brightness changes of the Linus images is due to variations in the sky conditions at the time of the observations. Rapid changes in the atmosphere result in variations in the sharpness of the corrected images. During the first two nights, seeing conditions were very good, but less so during the last two nights; this can be seen as a slight loss of sharpness of the corresponding satellite images. The discovery of this asteroid satellite, named Linus after the son of Kalliope, the Greek muse of heroic poetry, was first reported in September 2001 by a group of astronomers using the Canadian-France-Hawaii telescope on Mauna Kea (Hawaii, USA). Although previously believed to consist of metal-rich material, the discovery of Linus allowed the scientists to determine the mean density of Kalliope as ~ 2 g/cm3, a rather low value and not consistent with a metal-rich object. Kalliope is now believed to be a "rubble-pile" stony asteroid. Its porous interior is due to a catastrophic collision with another, smaller asteroid early in its history and which also gave birth to Linus. Other references related to Kalliope can be found in the International Astronomical Union Circular (IAUC) 7703 (2001) and a research article "A low density M-type asteroid in the main-belt" by Margot and Brown (Science 300, 193, 2003). Appendix C: Stars at the Galactic Centre and a Flare from the Black Hole ESO PR Photo 24k/04 ESO PR Photo 24k/04 SINFONI Observations of the Galactic Centre [Preview - JPEG: 427 x 400 pix - 213k] [Normal - JPEG: 854 x 800 pix - 511k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24k/04: The coloured image (background) shows a three-band composite image (H, K, and L-bands) obtained with the AO imager NACO on the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope. On July 15, 2004, the new SINFONI instrument, mounted at the Cassegrain focus of the same telescope, observed the innermost region (the central 1 x 1 arcsec) of the Milky Way Galaxy in the combined H+K band (1.45 - 2.45 µm) during a total of 110 min "on-source". The insert (upper left) shows the immediate neighbourhood of the central black hole as seen with SINFONI. The position of the black hole is marked with a yellow circle. Later in the night (03:37 UT on July 16), a flare from the black hole ocurred (a zoom-in is shown in the insert at the lower left) and the first-ever infrared spectrum of this phenomenon was observed. It was also possible to register for the first time in great detail the near-infrared spectra of young massive stars orbiting the black hole; some of these are shown in the inserts at the upper right; stars are identified by their "S"-designations. The lower right inserts show the spectra of stars in "IRS 13 E", a very compact cluster of very young and massive stars, located about 3.5 arcsec to the south-west of the black hole. The wavefront reference ("guide") star employed for these AO observations is comparably faint (red magnitude approx. 15), and it is located about 20 arcsec away from the field centre. The seeing during these observations was about 0.6 arcsec. The width of the slitlets was 0.025 arcsec. The Milky Way Centre is a unique laboratory for studying physical processes that are thought to be common in galactic nuclei. The Galactic Centre is not only the best studied case of a supermassive black hole, but the region also hosts the largest population of high-mass stars in the Galaxy. Diffraction-limited near-IR integral field spectroscopy offers a unique opportunity for exploring in detail the physical phenomena responsible for the active phases of this supermassive black hole, and for studying the dynamics and evolution of the star cluster in its immediate vicinity. Earlier observations with the VLT have been described in ESO PR 17/02 and ESO PR 26/03. With the new SINFONI observations, some of which are displayed in PR Photo 24k/04, it was possible to obtain for the first time very detailed near-infrared spectra of several young and massive stars orbiting the black hole at the centre of our galaxy. The presence of spectral signatures from ionised hydrogen (the Bracket-gamma line) and Helium clearly classify these stars as young, massive early-type stars. They are comparatively short-lived, and the large fraction of such stars in the immediate vicinity of a supermassive black hole is a mystery. The first SINFONI observations of the stellar populations in the innermost Galactic Centre region will now help to explain the origin and formation process of those stars. Moreover, the observed spectral features allow measuring their motions along the line-of-sight (the "radial velocities"). Combining them with the motions in the sky (the "proper motions") obtained from previous observations with the NACO instrument (ESO PR 17/02), it is now possible to determine all orbital parameters for the "S"-stars. This in turn makes it possible to measure directly the mass and the distance of the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. But not only this! Even more exciting, it became possible to register for the first time the infrared spectrum of a flare from the Galactic Centre black hole (cf. ESO PR 26/03). From the earlier imaging observations, it is known that such outbursts occur approximately once every 4 hours, giving us a uniquely detailed glimpse of a black hole feeding on left-over gas in its close surroundings. It is only the innovative technique of SINFONI - providing spectra for every pixel in a diffraction-limited image - that made it possible to capture the infrared spectrum of such a flare. Such spectra from SINFONI will soon allow to understand better the physics and mechanisms involved in the flare emission. Appendix D: The Active Circinus Galaxy ESO PR Photo 24l/04 ESO PR Photo 24l/04 SINFONI Observations of the Circinus Galaxy [Preview - JPEG: 824 x 400 pix - 324k] [Normal - JPEG: 412 x 800 pix - 131k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24l/04: The Circinus galaxy - one of the nearest galaxies with an active centre (AGN) - was observed in the K-band (wavelength 2 µm) using the nucleus to guide the SINFONI AO Module. The seeing was 0.5 arcsec and the width of each slitlet 0.025 arcsec; the total integration time on the galaxy was 40 min. At the top is a K-band image of the central arcsec of the galaxy (left insert) and a K-band spectrum of the nucleus (right). In the lower half are images (left) in the light of ionised hydrogen (the Brackett-gamma line) and molecular hydrogen lines (H2), together with their combined rotation curve (middle), as well as images of the broad and narrow components of the high excitation [Ca VIII] spectral line (right). The false-colours in the images represent regions of different surface brightness. At a distance of about 13 million light-years, the Circinus galaxy is one of the nearest galaxies with a very active black hole at the centre. It is seen behind a highly obscured sky field, only 3° from the Milky Way main plane in the southern constellation of this name ("The Pair of Compasses"). Using the nucleus of this galaxy to guide the AO Module, SINFONI was able to zoom in on the central arcsec region - only 60 light-years across - and to map the immediate environment of the black hole at the centre, cf. PR Photo 24l/04. The K-band (wavelength 2 µm) image (insert at the upper left) displays a very compact structure; the emission recorded at this wavelength comes from hot dust heated by radiation from the accretion disc around the black hole. However, as may be seen in the two inserts below, both the emission from ionized hydrogen (the Brackett-gamma line) and molecular hydrogen (H2) are more extended, up to about 30 light-years. As these spectral lines (cf. the spectral tracing at the upper right) are quite narrow and show ordered rotation up to ±40km/s, it is likely that they arise from star formation in a disk around the central black hole. A surprise from the SINFONI observations is that the spectral line of Ca7+-ions (seven times ionised Calcium atoms, or [Ca VIII], which are produced by the ionizing effect of very energetic ultraviolet radiation) in this area appears to have distinct broad and narrow components (images at the lower right). The broad component is centred on the region around the black hole, and probably arises in the so-called "Broad-Line Region". The narrow component is displaced to the north-west and most likely indicates a region where there is a direct line-of-sight from the black hole to some gas clouds. Appendix E: The Active Nucleus in NGC 7469 ESO PR Photo 24m/04 ESO PR Photo 24m/04 SINFONI Observations of NGC 7469 [Preview - JPEG: 470 x 400 pix - 116k] [Normal - JPEG: 939 x 800 pix - 324k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24m/04: NGC 7469 was observed in K band (wavelength 2 µm) using the nucleus to guide the adaptive optics. The width of each slitlet was 0.025 arcsec and the seeing was 1.1 arcsec. The total integration time on the galaxy was 70 min "on-source". To the upper left is a K-band image (2 µm) of the central arcsec of the NGC7469 and to the upper right, the spectrum of the nucleus. To the lower left is an image of the molecular hydrogen line, together with its rotation curve. There is an image in the light of ionized hydrogen (Bracket-gamma line) at the lower middle and an image of the CO 2-0 absorption bandhead which traces young stars (lower right). The galaxy NGC 7469 (seen north of the celestial equator in the constellation Pegasus) also hosts an active galactic nucleus, but contrary to the Circinus galaxy, it is relatively unobscured. Since NGC 7469 is at a much larger distance, about 225 million light-years, the 0.15 arcsec resolution achieved by SINFONI here corresponds to about 165 light-years. The K-band image (PR Photo 24m/04) shows the bright, compact nucleus of this galaxy, and the spectrum displays very broad lines of ionized hydrogen (the Brackett-gamma line) and helium. This emission arises in the "Broad-Line" region which is still unresolved, as shown by the Brackett-gamma image. On the other hand, the molecular hydrogen extends up to 650 light-years from the centre and shows an ordered rotation. In contrast, the image obtained in the light of CO-molecules - which directly traces late-type stars typical for starbursts - appears very compact. These results confirm those obtained by means of earlier AO observations, but with the new SINFONI data corresponding to various spectral lines, the detailed, two-dimensional structure and motions close to the central black hole are now clearly revealed for the first time. Appendix F: The Galaxy Merger NGC 6240 ESO PR Photo 24n/04 ESO PR Photo 24n/04 SINFONI Observations of NGC 6240 [Preview - JPEG: 506 x 400 pix - 96k] [Normal - JPEG: 1011 x 800 pix - 277k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24n/04: The galaxy merger system NGC 6240 was observed with SINFONI in the K-band (wavelength 2 µm). This object has two nuclei; the image of the southern one is also shown enlarged, together with the corresponding spectrum. The width of each slitlet was 0.025 arcsec and the seeing was 0.8 arcsec. The total integration time on the galaxy was 80 min. The false-colours in the images represent regions of different surface brightness. The infrared-luminous galaxy NGC 6240 in the constellation Ophiuchus (The Serpent-holder) is in many ways the prototype of a gas-rich, infrared-(ultra-)luminous galaxy merger. This system has two rapidly rotating, massive bulges/nuclei at a projected angular separation of 1.6 arcsec. Each of them contains a powerful starburst region and a luminous, highly obscured, X-ray-emitting supermassive black hole. As such, NGC 6240 is probably a nearby example of dust and gas-rich galaxy merger systems seen at larger distances. NGC6240 is also the most luminous, nearby source of molecular hydrogen emission. It was observed in the K-band (wavelength 2 µm), using a faint star at a distance of about 35 arcsec as the AO "guide" star. The starburst activity is traced by the ionized gas and occurs mostly at the two nuclei in regions measuring around 650 light-years across. The distribution of the molecular gas is very different. It follows a complex spatial and dynamical pattern with several extended streamers. The high-resolution SINFONI data now makes it possible - for the first time - to investigate the distribution and motion of the molecular gas, as well as the stellar population in this galaxy with a "resolution" of about 80 light-years. Appendix G: Motions in the Young Star-Forming Galaxies BX 404/405 ESO PR Photo 24o/04 ESO PR Photo 24o/04 SINFONI Observations of the Distant Galaxy Pair BX 404/405 [Preview - JPEG: 481 x 400 pix - 86k] [Normal - JPEG: 962 x 800 pix - 251k] Caption: ESO PR Photo 24o/04 shows the distant galaxy pair BX 404/405, as recorded in the K-band (wavelength 2 µm, centered on the redshifted H-alpha line), without AO-correction because of the lack of a nearby, sufficiently bright "guide" star. The width of each slitlet was 0.25 arcsec and the seeing about 0.6 arcsec. The integration time on the galaxy was 2 hours "on-source". The image shown has been reconstructed by combining all of the spectral elements around the H-alpha spectral line. The spectrum of BX 405 (upper right) clearly reveals signs of a velocity shear while that of BX 404 does not. This may be a sign of rotation, a possible signature of a young disc in this galaxy. How and when did the discs in spiral galaxies like the Milky Way form? This is one of the longest-standing puzzles in modern cosmology. Two general models presently describe how disk galaxies may form. One is based on a scenario in which there is a gentle collapse of gas clouds that collide and lose momentum. They sink towards a "centre", thereby producing a disc of gas in which stars are formed. The other implies that galaxies grow through repeated mergers of smaller gas-rich galaxies. Together they first produce a spherical mass distribution at the centre and any remaining gas then settles into a disk. Recent studies of stars in the Milky Way system and nearby spiral galaxies suggest that the discs now present in these systems formed about 10,000 million years ago. This corresponds to the epoch when we observe galaxies at redshifts of about 1.5 - 2.5. Interestingly, studies of galaxies at these distances seem consistent with current ideas about when disks may have formed, and there is some evidence that most of the mass in the galaxies was also assembled at that time. In any case, the most direct way to verify such a connection is to observe galaxies at redshifts 1.5-2.5, in order to elucidate whether their observed properties are consistent with velocity patterns of rotating disks of gas and stars. This would be visible as a "velocity shear", i.e., a significant difference in velocity of neigbouring regions. In addition, such observations may provide a good test of the above mentioned hypotheses for how discs may have formed. Various groups of astrophysicists in the US and Europe have developed observational selection criteria which may be used to identify galaxies with properties similar to those expected for young disc galaxies. Observations with SINFONI was made of one of these objects, the galaxy pair BX 404/405 discovered by a group of astronomers at Caltech (USA). For BX 405, clear signs were found of a "velocity shear" like that expected for rotation of a forming disk, but the other object does not show this. It may thus be that the properties of star-forming galaxies at this epoch are quite complex and that only some of them have young disks.