The Cherenkov Telescope Array Large Size Telescope

The two arrays of the Very High Energy gamma-ray observatory Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will include four Large Size Telescopes (LSTs) each with a 23 m diameter dish and 28 m focal distance. These telescopes will enable CTA to achieve a low-energy threshold of 20 GeV, which is critical for important studies in astrophysics, astroparticle physics and cosmology. This work presents the key specifications and performance of the current LST design in the light of the CTA scientific objectives.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, In Proceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). All CTA contributions at arXiv:1307.223

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Seal Influenza A(H10N7) Virus in Harbor Seals and Gray Seals from the Netherlands

In the spring and summer 2014, an outbreak of seal influenza A(H10N7) virus infection occurred among harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) off the coasts of Sweden and Denmark. This virus subsequently spread to harbor seals off the coasts of Germany and the Netherlands. While thousands of seals were reported dead in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, only a limited number of seals were found dead in the Netherlands. To determine the extent of exposure of seals in the Netherlands to influenza A/H10N7 virus, we measured specific antibody titers in serum samples from live-captured seals and seals admitted for rehabilitation in the Netherlands by use of a hemagglutination inhibition assay and an ELISA. In harbor seals in 2015, antibodies against seal influenza A(H10N7) virus were detected in 41% (32 out of 78) pups, 10% (5 out of 52) weaners, and 58% (7 out of 12) subadults or adults. In gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in 2015, specific antibodies were not found i

TESLA Technical Design Report Part III: Physics at an e+e- Linear Collider

The TESLA Technical Design Report Part III: Physics at an e+e- Linear ColliderComment: 192 pages, 131 figures. Some figures have reduced quality. Full quality figures can be obtained from http://tesla.desy.de/tdr. Editors - R.-D. Heuer, D.J. Miller, F. Richard, P.M. Zerwa

Industry Price Guarantees for Publicly Funded Medicines: Learning from Project NextGen for Pandemics and Beyond

The affordability of publicly funded medicines has been a longstanding concern. In 2023, the Biden administration took several steps on this front, including incorporation of a price constraint in an agreement between the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody. The agreement included a ‘Most Favored Nation’ (MFN) clause in which Regeneron agreed that the US commercial list price of certain products developed using BARDA funding would not exceed their retail price in comparable global markets. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) included similar language in subsequent agreements, with a promise that this would become a new standard. Even beyond the preparedness context, government funders and purchasers might consider incorporating similar clauses in future contracts, especially given that the Regeneron agreement and its progeny have been praised as ‘groundbreaking.’ Yet a closer look reveals cause for skepticism. Regeneron’s MFN clause includes several loopholes related to covered purchasers and reference countries, prices, and conditions. We describe agreement terms that can make the difference between legally meaningful price constraints and mere window dressing. Our critical analysis offers important lessons for future efforts to improve the affordability of medical technology developed with public funds

The role of social networks in the economic opportunities of Bolivian women

The authors used empirical analysis to understand the role that networks play in income-generating activities of Bolivian women. Women are an important contributor of household income, and between 20 to 50 percent are the sole income earners of the household. Social networks theories see networks as a way to reduce uncertainty of workers productivity, and to disseminate job information. Theories suggest that social networks also have gender differences, associating women's social networks with lower-quality employment. In Bolivia, women's unemployment rates are higher than men, and 80 percent of women work in the informal sector and in low-quality jobs. Weaker social ties such as neighbours and acquaintances are more conducive to useful job information. Networks can also be classified as endogenous, exogenous, and contextual. Study results show social networks as an important vehicle through which women access jobs that are better-paid jobs than self-employment positions. Both men and women tend to use same sex networks to find jobs. In urban areas women benefit more from information tips of other employed women, but in rural areas women benefit more from male employers as their job informant

Adaptación y validación de la escala de bienestar materno en situación de parto: segunda versión para escenarios de asistencia integral

Antecedentes: La literatura actual ha mostrado escasa información respecto del bienestar materno durante el proceso de parto. Objetivo: Mejorar la exigencia de la Escala Bienestar materno en Situación de Parto (BMSP1), para ser utilizada en modalidades integrales de asistencia, se adapta la versión inicial y se valida estadísticamente. Método: Se utiliza una muestra no probabilística de 223 puérperas de bajo riesgo, que participan como grupo control, previo a la implementación del Centro de Asistencia Integral del Parto en un hospital público de Santiago. A la escala BMSP1 se agregan 10 afirmaciones alineadas con las políticas de parto integral y, posteriormente, se le aplica dos pruebas psicométricas que permiten evaluar su consistencia interna y reagrupar los ítems en nuevas dimensiones-subescalas. Resultados: Se obtiene un instrumento válido y fiable, apto para recoger la percepción de bienestar en modalidades de asistencia integral del parto. Se compone de 7 dimensiones que agrupan a 47 afirmaciones de bienestar o malestar. La primera, referida al cuidado relacional de calidad, concentra la mayor cantidad de afirmaciones. El resto de las dimensiones agrupan, cada una, a lo menos 4 ítems de bienestar o malestar, y se refieren a las condiciones ambientales, a la percepción de contacto precoz con el hijo, al acompañamiento familiar, a las medidas de autocuidado y confort, al cuidado oportuno y respetuoso; asimismo, la que tiene relación con la despersonalización del cuidado. Conclusión: La escala BMSP2 es aplicable para evaluar bienestar materno en escenarios de parto con las exigencias de un proceso integral, de calidad y seguridad

Sierra Elvira limestone in Granada's architecture (16th-19th centuries): historical significance and geotouristic potential

Presentado en el XI Congreso Geológico de España (Ávila, 2-6 de julio de 2024).[EN] The limestone with crinoids from Sierra Elvira (Atarfe, Granada) of the Lower Lias (Middle Subbetic), commercially known as Bronceado Gris Sierra Elvira, is one of the most prominent building materials in the city of Granada (southern Spain), especially employed for decorative purposes during the 16th to 19th centuries. This work compiles and analyses detailed information about its historical quarries and its use in various civic and religious elements throughout the city. Most of them are catalogued as Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC, in Spanish). In addition, the historical and social factors that influenced its utilization in this specific period in analysed. The objective is to highlight its value within Granada's heritage and underscore its relevance in the religious and civil architecture of the city, proposing the creation of geotouristic routes that integrate historical information with nature tourism due to the great tourist boom that the city is currently experiencing.[ES] La caliza de crinoides de Sierra Elvira (Atarfe, Granada) del Lías inferior (Subbético Medio), conocida comercialmente como Bronceado Gris Sierra Elvira, es uno de los materiales de construcción más prominentes de la ciudad de Granada (sur de España), siendo especialmente empleada con fines decorativos entre los siglos XVI al XIX. En este trabajo se recopila y analiza información detallada sobre sus canteras históricas y su utilización en diferentes elementos civiles y religiosos por toda la ciudad. La mayor parte de ellos están considerados como Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). Asimismo, se analizan los factores históricos y sociales que influyeron en su utilización en este periodo concreto. El objetivo es dar a conocer su valor dentro del patrimonio granadino y evidenciar su relevancia en la arquitectura religiosa y civil de la ciudad y proponer la creación de rutas geoturísticas que integren la información histórica y la relacionada con el turismo de naturaleza, debido al gran auge turístico que vive la ciudad en la actualidad.Este trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco de la Cátedra Gómez Moreno para la investigación en Medina Elvira y la puesta en valor del yacimiento de la Universidad de Granada, que financian Ibox Energy, Magnon y Verbund.Peer reviewe

The bulk modulus of cubic spinel selenides. An experimental and theoretical study.

It is argued that mainly the selenium sublattice determines the overall compressibility of the cubic spinel selenides, AB2Se4, and that the bulk modulus for these compounds is about 100 GPa. The hypothesis is supported by experiments using high-pressure X-ray diffraction and synchrotron radiation, and by first-principles calculations using density functional theory

Overcoming inefficiencies of patent licensing:A method to assess patent’s essentiality for technical standards

Patents that are essential to a technical standard are key assets for both developers and implementers of the standard. Many standard setting organisations (SSOs) seek to ensure that all such patents be made available to licensees under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions, and frequently also stipulate that such patents be explicitly declared. But while many patents are declared to be potentially essential, little is known about which of these are actually essential. Absence of (transparent) information on essentiality has significant social costs. Responding to calls for such data from industry, courts and policy makers, several commercial studies and a few academic papers have attempted such assessments, but each has limitations. This paper reports on the technical feasibility of a system of expert assessment for patent essentiality. Twenty-eight experts, including many patent examiners, performed a total of 205 assessments, spending a total of 176 working days. Comparing their outcomes to a high-quality (yet not perfect) reference point, we conclude the accurate assessments, at a price level that allows large scale testing, are certainly technically feasible, and identify routes to further improvement