Estimating Column Density in Molecular Clouds with FIR and Sub-mm Emission Maps

We have used a numerical simulation of a turbulent cloud to synthesize maps of the thermal emission from dust at a variety of far-IR and sub-mm wavelengths. The average column density and external radiation field in the simulation is well matched to clouds such as Perseus and Ophiuchus. We use pairs of single-wavelength emission maps to derive the dust color temperature and column density, and we compare the derived column densities with the true column density. We demonstrate that longer wavelength emission maps yield less biased estimates of column density than maps made towards the peak of the dust emission spectrum. We compare the scatter in the derived column density with the observed scatter in Perseus and Ophiuchus. We find that while in Perseus all of the observed scatter in the emission-derived versus the extinction-derived column density can be attributed to the flawed assumption of isothermal dust along each line of sight, in Ophiuchus there is additional scatter above what can be explained by the isothermal assumption. Our results imply that variations in dust emission properties within a molecular cloud are not necessarily a major source of uncertainty in column density measurements.Comment: Accepted to ApJ Letter

Environmental Regulation: Effective or Defective? Assessing whether criminal sanctions provide adequate protection of the environment

Issues, such as climate change and global warming, have seen environmental protection grow in the global consciousness into something worthy and in need of regulation. In response, a number of laws have been enacted which make certain environmental actions criminal offences, enforced through the criminal justice system. These environmental crimes are enforced using the same mechanisms and must satisfy the same procedural safeguards as 'traditional' criminal offences in order to secure conviction. This discussion looks at elements of the current system and whether it provides an effective system for protecting the environment. An examination of the alternatives is also made to establish if different enforcement mechanisms would facilitate better environmental regulation

Evaluating Conflicts in the Use and Development of Geographic Information Systems

Use of geographic information systems is increasing in governments, commercial companies, and by individual users. With such pervasive use of GIs there has been surprisingly little investigation of the values that various parties would support in the development of geographic technologies. There are many parties involved in the use of GIs each with opinions of what are good goals for developing and using such systems. This research seeks to determine differences and similarities among parties in the importance placed on supporting specific societal goals germane to the use of geographic technologies and databases. Previous research determined six areas where the potential for disagreement between different parties involved in GIs might be high. The first phase of the research involved creating a survey. The survey was designed to determine to what extent conflicts are perceived to exist by those using and creating GIs and those who are subjects of such systems. Those sampled in the survey were asked how much value they would place on various societal goals. Each goal is believed to be a laudable goal by some parties using GIs. Response options ranged from unimportant societal goal to highly important societal goal. Statistical analysis of the results was performed. This allowed researchers to see if differences exist among the groups sampled for the value they place on supporting the goals. Various professional organizations with members involved in the use and development of geographic information systems are discussing the development of codes of conduct and recommendations for ethical education. The work done for this project hopes to serve as an initial step for creating ethical learning materials. The research also identifies areas where there is disagreement about what is beneficial for society so further research may be performed

Unexpected nucleophilic participation and rearrangement of DBU in reactions with saccharin derivatives

DBU attacks saccharin derivatives with subsequent rearrangement to give rise to 3-[3'-(1"-azepin-2"-onyl)propylamino]-1,2-benzisothiazole-1,1-dioxide 2 after work-up

Observations on Kala Azar in North China

The cases of Kala Azar here brought under review have been treated at the Foster Hospital of the English Baptist Mission, at Chow-Tsun in the Province of Shantung, North China. With one or two exceptions, they have all come from two areas, in the same district about 100 miles from the hospital. There are sporadic cases within a few miles of it, but in the areas above mentioned the disease is endemic, nearly every village having a certain number of cases, and a majority of the families having a past or present history of the disease.Owing to the great distance from the hospital to the homes of the patients, and the impossibility of ensuring regular attendance at the Out-patient Department of such as come from the immediate vicinity, all the cases have been admitted to the wards and remained there during the course of treatment. Close observation has been possible in every case. All cases without regard to end-result have been included in the report so that a true estimate of the results of treatment can be obtained.The writer has personally supervised and examined every case, and all laboratory methods have been under his direct supervision. He has also personally examined every microscopical slide and has seen the Leishman-Donovan body in every case in which it has been reported as present