ALMA observations of the debris disk around the young Solar Analog HD 107146

We present ALMA continuum observations at a wavelength of 1.25 mm of the debris disk surrounding the $\sim$ 100 Myr old solar analog HD 107146. The continuum emission extends from about 30 to 150 AU from the central star with a decrease in the surface brightness at intermediate radii. We analyze the ALMA interferometric visibilities using debris disk models with radial profiles for the dust surface density parametrized as i) a single power-law, ii) a single power-law with a gap, and iii) a double power-law. We find that models with a gap of radial width $\sim 8$ AU at a distance of $\sim 80$ AU from the central star, as well as double power-law models with a dip in the dust surface density at $\sim 70$ AU provide significantly better fits to the ALMA data than single power-law models. We discuss possible scenarios for the origin of the HD 107146 debris disk using models of planetesimal belts in which the formation of Pluto-sized objects trigger disruptive collisions of large bodies, as well as models which consider the interaction of a planetary system with a planetesimal belt and spatial variation of the dust opacity across the disk. If future observations with higher angular resolution and sensitivity confirm the fully-depleted gap structure discussed here, a planet with a mass of approximately a few Earth masses in a nearly circular orbit at $\sim 80$ AU from the central star would be a possible explanation for the presence of the gap.Comment: (38 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

ALMA Observations of the T Tauri Binary System AS 205: Evidence for Molecular Winds and/or Binary Interactions

In this study, we present high-resolution millimeter observations of the dust and gas disk of the T Tauri star AS 205 N and its companion, AS 205 S, obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array. The gas disk around AS 205 N, for which infrared emission spectroscopy demonstrates significant deviations from Keplerian motion that has been interpreted as evidence for a disk wind (Pontoppidan et al. 2011; Bast et al. 2011), also displays significant deviations from Keplerian disk emission in the observations presented here. Detections near both AS 205 N and S are obtained in 1.3 mm continuum, 12CO 2-1, 13CO 2-1 and C18O 2-1. The 12CO emission is extended up to 2 arcsec from AS 205N, and both 12CO and 13CO display deviations from Keplerian rotation at all angular scales. Two possible explanations for these observations hold up best to close scrutiny - tidal interaction with AS 205 S or disk winds (or a combination of the two), and we discuss these possibilities in some detail.Comment: accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Assessing molecular outflows and turbulence in the protostellar cluster Serpens South

Molecular outflows driven by protostellar cluster members likely impact their surroundings and contribute to turbulence, affecting subsequent star formation. The very young Serpens South cluster consists of a particularly high density and fraction of protostars, yielding a relevant case study for protostellar outflows and their impact on the cluster environment. We combined CO $J=1-0$ observations of this region using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) and the Institut de Radioastronomie Millim\'{e}trique (IRAM) 30 m single dish telescope. The combined map allows us to probe CO outflows within the central, most active region at size scales of 0.01 pc to 0.8 pc. We account for effects of line opacity and excitation temperature variations by incorporating $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO data for the $J=1-0$ and $J=3-2$ transitions (using Atacama Pathfinder Experiment and Caltech Submillimeter Observatory observations for the higher CO transitions), and we calculate mass, momentum, and energy of the molecular outflows in this region. The outflow mass loss rate, force, and luminosity, compared with diagnostics of turbulence and gravity, suggest that outflows drive a sufficient amount of energy to sustain turbulence, but not enough energy to substantially counter the gravitational potential energy and disrupt the clump. Further, we compare Serpens South with the slightly more evolved cluster NGC 1333, and we propose an empirical scenario for outflow-cluster interaction at different evolutionary stages.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Fertilizer-Insecticide Mixtures on Corn

Soil fertility and insects are major factors that affect corn yields. The proper kinds and amounts of fertilizers and insecticides when used properly will make corn production more economical on fields where either or both are needed

Validation of Three Body Composition Techniques with a Comparison of Ultrasound Abdominal Fat Depths against an Octopolar Bioelectrical Impedance Device

International Journal of Exercise Science 5(3) : 205-213, 2012. The aims of this study were to cross-validate three clinical-grade measures of body composition, using an octopolar Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA), an ultrasound analyzer (US) and Air-Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) and second to compare the US scans of total abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral fat depths (mm) against the trunk percent fat (%BF) from the octopolar BIA. Twenty-six college-aged (22.9 ± 1.35 years) men (n = 18) and women (n = 8) volunteered to participate in this study. Body composition was assessed using BIA (total and by segments), ADP and US. In addition, total abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral fat layers were measured using the US. All measurements were done in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines. The %BF comparing the three clinical grade machines were all significantly correlated and no significant differences were found using a 1-way ANOVA. All three fat depths were significantly correlated to the trunk fat % via BIA, while significant differences were found for the 1-way ANOVA. A Tukey post-hoc test showed significant differences between the BIA trunk %BF and both subcutaneous and visceral US fat depths. Having valid ways to measure body composition and visceral fat that is accessible in terms of being transportable, cost effective, and simple to use, should become a part of preventive medicine

Feasibility study and pilot cluster randomised controlled trial of the GoActive Intervention aiming to promote physical activity among adolescents: outcomes and lessons learnt

$\textbf{Objectives:}$ Assess the feasibility of implementing the GoActive intervention in secondary schools, to identify improvements, test study procedures, determine preliminary effectiveness to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and inform power calculations to establish programme effectiveness. $\textbf{Setting:}$ Feasibility study (1 school) and pilot CRCT (2 intervention;1 control school(s)) $\textbf{Participants:}$ 460 participants (46.6% female; 13.2(0.4) years-old). $\textbf{Interventions:}$ 8-week intervention (2013) involved: classes choosing weekly activities encouraged by Mentors (older adolescents) and in-class peer-leaders. Students gain points for trying activities which are entered into an intra-mural competition. $\textbf{Primary and secondary outcome measures:}$ Planned quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (focus groups) process evaluation addressed enjoyment, confidence, participation, suggested improvements. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and follow-up (week 8) in pilot CRCT and included: accelerometer-assessed MVPA; adolescent-reported activity type, wellbeing, peer-support, shyness, sociability. ANCOVA was used to assess preliminary effectiveness as change in MVPA adjusted for baseline. $\textbf{Results:}$ All Year 9 students in intervention schools were exposed to the intervention; over all schools 77% of eligible students were measured. 71% boys and 74% girls found GoActive ‘fun’; 38% boys and 32% girls said it increased confidence and 64% boys and 59% girls said they would continue with a GoActive activity. Suggested improvements included more Mentorship; improved training; streamlined points recording. Pilot results indicated potential effectiveness ((adjusted mean difference (95%CI)p-value) (MVPA mins) 5.1(1.1,9.2)p=0.014)) and suggest recruitment of 16 schools (2400 adolescents) for a full trial. Compared to control, intervention students reported greater peer support 0.5(0.1,0.9)p=0.03, wellbeing 1.8(0.1, 3.4)p=0.04 but no difference in shyness/sociability. Participation in activity types approached significance (intervention group 2.3(-0.2,4.7)p=0.07 more activity types). $\textbf{Conclusions:}$ Results suggest feasibility and indicate potential effectiveness of GoActive to increase MVPA and support a fully-powered evaluation of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Process evaluation data was used to refine GoActive prior to a full trial. $\textbf{Trial Registration:}$ ISRCTN registry ISRCTN31583496.Funding for this study and the work of all authors was supported, wholly or in part, by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence (RES-590-28-0002). Funding from the British Heart Foundation, Department of Health, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, is gratefully acknowledged. The work of Kirsten Corder, Helen Brown and Esther M F van Sluijs was supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/7)

CO(J = 1-0) Imaging of M51 with CARMA and the Nobeyama 45 m Telescope

We report the CO(J = 1-0) observations of the Whirlpool Galaxy M51 using both the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter Astronomy (CARMA) and the Nobeyama 45 m telescope (NRO45). We describe a procedure for the combination of interferometer and single-dish data. In particular, we discuss (1) the joint imaging and deconvolution of heterogeneous data, (2) the weighting scheme based on the root-mean-square (rms) noise in the maps, (3) the sensitivity and uv coverage requirements, and (4) the flux recovery of a combined map. We generate visibilities from the single-dish map and calculate the noise of each visibility based on the rms noise. Our weighting scheme, though it is applied to discrete visibilities in this paper, should be applicable to grids in uv space, and this scheme may advance in future software development. For a realistic amount of observing time, the sensitivities of the NRO45 and CARMA visibility data sets are best matched by using the single-dish baselines only up to 4-6 kλ (about 1/4-1/3 of the dish diameter). The synthesized beam size is determined to conserve the flux between the synthesized beam and convolution beam. The superior uv coverage provided by the combination of CARMA long baseline data with 15 antennas and NRO45 short spacing data results in the high image fidelity, which is evidenced by the excellent overlap between even the faint CO emission and dust lanes in an optical Hubble Space Telescope image and polycyclicaromatichydrocarbon emission in a Spitzer 8 μm image. The total molecular gas masses of NGC 5194 and 5195 (d = 8.2 Mpc) are 4.9 × 10^9 M_⊙ and 7.8 × 10^7 M_⊙, respectively, assuming the CO-to-H_2 conversion factor of X _(CO) = 1.8 × 10^(20) cm-2(K km s^(–1))^(–1). The presented images are an indication of the millimeter-wave images that will become standard in the next decade with CARMA and NRO45, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array

Optical offset pointing of radio interferometers: applications at the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy

Optical telescopes and cameras are often used to determine the initial pointing model for radio antennas. After this initial determination, the optical systems are typically not used. The Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) has implemented optical oset pointing as a standard calibration option for science observations. We report on the proof of concept testing, the method, and the typical improvements obtained over traditional radio pointing. We conclude with a brief discussion of future directions, which may oer further improved pointing at CARMA and at other facilities that require increased pointing accuracy