Optical Observations of the Binary Millisecond Pulsars J2145-0750 and J0034-0534

We report on optical observations of the low-mass binary millisecond pulsar systems J0034-0534 and J2145-0750. A faint (I=23.5) object was found to be coincident with the timing position of PSR J2145-0750. While a galaxy or distant main-sequence star cannot be ruled out, its magnitude is consistent with an ancient white dwarf, as expected from evolutionary models. For PSR J0034-0534 no objects were detected to a limiting magnitude of R=25.0, suggesting that the white dwarf in this system is cold. Using white dwarf cooling models, the limit on the magnitude of the PSR J0034-0534 companion suggests that at birth the pulsar in this system may have rotated with a period as short as 0.6 ms. These observations provide further evidence that the magnetic fields of millisecond pulsars do not decay on time scales shorter than 1 Gyr.Comment: 6 pages, uuencoded, gz -9 compressed postscript, accepted by ApJ

Cosmological Parameter Extraction from the First Season of Observations with DASI

The Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (\dasi) has measured the power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy over the range of spherical harmonic multipoles 100<l<900. We compare this data, in combination with the COBE-DMR results, to a seven dimensional grid of adiabatic CDM models. Adopting the priors h>0.45 and 0.0<=tau_c<=0.4, we find that the total density of the Universe Omega_tot=1.04+/-0.06, and the spectral index of the initial scalar fluctuations n_s=1.01+0.08-0.06, in accordance with the predictions of inflationary theory. In addition we find that the physical density of baryons Omega_b.h^2=0.022+0.004-0.003, and the physical density of cold dark matter Omega_cdm.h^2=0.14+/-0.04. This value of Omega_b.h^2 is consistent with that derived from measurements of the primordial abundance ratios of the light elements combined with big bang nucleosynthesis theory. Using the result of the HST Key Project h=0.72+/-0.08 we find that Omega_t=1.00+/-0.04, the matter density Omega_m=0.40+/-0.15, and the vacuum energy density Omega_lambda=0.60+/-0.15. (All 68% confidence limits.)Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, minor changes in response to referee comment

The Therapeutic Effects of Nature, Urban, or Standard Hospital Decorations on a Hospitalized Patient

Purpose: To review the present literature that evaluates the therapeutic effects of nature on hospitalized patients as compared to urban decoration or a standard hospital atmosphere. Background: Research on the topic of nature’s effects on hospitalized patients began in 1984 by Ulrich. While this study brought forth many positive effects of nature, further study on the subject has only recently been continued. Reviews on whether or not there is evidence to support nature in hospitals are limited and have only begun to be addressed in practice. Methods: Articles published between 2008 and 2013 found in Pub Med, One Search, Ebsco, and Medline were reviewed that contained the following keywords: nature, nature in hospitals, gardens, hospital gardens, gardens in hospitals, scenery, hospital landscape, hospital scenery, plants, or plants in hospitals. Findings: The current evidence base supports the use of nature for hospitalized patients because of its therapeutic effects of decreasing pain, reducing stress, decreasing healing time, and uplifting their mood. Conclusions: The positive effects of nature which arose from the literature reviewed indicate the priority to incorporate nature into hospitalized settings to improve patient care and outcomes

Regioselective Transition-Metal-Catalyzed C–H Functionalization of Anilines

Anilines are a vital synthetic core of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, natural products and building blocks. Metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization has emerged as a powerful tool to derivatize biologically relevant molecules. To this end, the derivation of anilines via catalytic C–H functionalization has been the subject of important new synthetic methodology. This review focuses on the tactics used to allow regioselective C–H functionalization of anilines.1 Introduction2 ortho-Selective C–H Functionalization2.1 Palladium2.2 Rhodium2.3 Ruthenium2.4 Nickel3 meta-Selective C–H Functionalization4 para-Selective C–H Functionalization5 Conclusion</jats:p

Preparing potential teachers for the transition from employment to teacher training: an evaluative case study of a Maths Enhancement Course

In response to a UK government drive to improve maths teaching in schools, the South West London Maths Enhancement Course (MEC) has been set up though collaboration between three Higher Education institutions (HEIs) to provide an efficient route for non maths graduates in employment to upgrade their subject knowledge and give a smooth transition into teacher training (PGCE). An evaluation of the scheme, measured against Teacher Development Agency (TDA) objectives and success criteria agreed by university staff, involved thematic analysis of focus group discussions and interviews with students and staff during both the MEC and PGCE courses. This has revealed a high level of satisfaction and success related to a number of underlying issues, particularly around student recruitment, curriculum design, peer support and staff collaboration. The model offers an example of practice transferable to a range of programmes aimed at supporting students in the transition between levels and institutions

Second and third season QUaD CMB temperature and polarization power spectra

We report results from the second and third seasons of observation with the QUaD experiment. Angular power spectra of the Cosmic Microwave Background are derived for both temperature and polarization at both 100 GHz and 150 GHz, and as cross frequency spectra. All spectra are subjected to an extensive set of jackknife tests to probe for possible systematic contamination. For the implemented data cuts and processing technique such contamination is undetectable. We analyze the difference map formed between the 100 and 150 GHz bands and find no evidence of foreground contamination in polarization. The spectra are then combined to form a single set of results which are shown to be consistent with the prevailing LCDM model. The sensitivity of the polarization results is considerably better than that of any previous experiment -- for the first time multiple acoustic peaks are detected in the E-mode power spectrum at high significance.Comment: 24 pages, 23 figures, updated to reflect published versio

QUaD: A High-Resolution Cosmic Microwave Background Polarimeter

We describe the QUaD experiment, a millimeter-wavelength polarimeter designed to observe the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) from a site at the South Pole. The experiment comprises a 2.64 m Cassegrain telescope equipped with a cryogenically cooled receiver containing an array of 62 polarization-sensitive bolometers. The focal plane contains pixels at two different frequency bands, 100 GHz and 150 GHz, with angular resolutions of 5 arcmin and 3.5 arcmin, respectively. The high angular resolution allows observation of CMB temperature and polarization anisotropies over a wide range of scales. The instrument commenced operation in early 2005 and collected science data during three successive Austral winter seasons of observation.Comment: 23 pages, author list and text updated to reflect published versio

HI Narrow Self-Absorption in Dark Clouds: Correlations with Molecular Gas and Implications for Cloud Evolution and Star Formation

We present the results of a comparative study of HI narrow self-absorption (HINSA), OH, 13CO, and C18O in five dark clouds. The HINSA follows the distribution of the emission of the carbon monoxide isotopologues, and has a characteristic size close to that of 13CO. This confirms that the HINSA is produced by cold HI which is well mixed with molecular gas in well-shielded regions. The ratio of the atomic hydrogen density to total proton density for these sources is 5 to 27 x 10^{-4}. Using cloud temperatures and the density of HI, we set an upper limit to the cosmic ray ionization rate of 10^{-16} s^{-1}. Comparison of observed and modeled fractional HI abundances indicates ages for these clouds to be 10^{6.5} to 10^{7} yr. The low values of the HI density we have determined make it certain that the time scale for evolution from an atomic to an almost entirely molecular phase, must be a minimum of several million years. This clearly sets a lower limit to the overall time scale for star formation and the lifetime of molecular clouds

Rapidity Distributions of Dileptons from a Hadronizing Quark-Gluon Plasma

It has been predicted that dilepton production may be used as a quark-gluon plasma probe. We calculate the rapidity distributions of thermal dileptons produced by an evolving quark-gluon plasma assuming a longitudinal scaling expansion with initial conditions locally determined from the hadronic rapidity density. These distributions are compared with Drell-Yan production and semileptonic charm decays at invariant mass $M = 2$, 4, and 6 GeV.Comment: 17 pages (standard LaTeX), 6 figures (available as topdraw files or printed versions upon request), GSI-93-6