A Tale of Two Populations: The Contribution of Merger and Secular Processes to the Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei

Due to the co-evolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, understanding the mechanisms that trigger active galactic nuclei (AGN) are imperative to understanding galaxy evolution and the formation of massive galaxies. It is observationally difficult to determine the trigger of a given AGN due to the difference between the AGN lifetime and triggering timescales. Here, we utilize AGN population synthesis modeling to determine the importance of different AGN triggering mechanisms. An AGN population model is computed by combining an observationally motivated AGN triggering rate and a theoretical AGN light curve. The free parameters of the AGN light curve are constrained by minimizing a \chi squared test with respect to the observed AGN hard X-ray luminosity function. The observed black hole space density, AGN number counts, and X-ray background spectrum are also considered as observational constraints. It is found that major mergers are not able to account for the entire AGN population. Therefore, non-merger processes, such as secular mechanisms, must also trigger AGN. Indeed, non-merger processes are the dominant AGN triggering mechanism at z \lesssim 1--1.5. Furthermore, the shape and evolution of the black hole mass function of AGN triggered by major mergers is intrinsically different from the shape and evolution of the black hole mass function of AGN triggered by secular processes.Comment: Accepted Ap

Electrical Support Equipment for the Saturn V Launch Vehicle System

Electrical support equipment for checkout and launch of the Saturn V vehicle is described. Functional descriptions of the digital computer and the electrical support equipment are presented. Projects that are being developed for future use are discussed briefly

Karst of the Fireside quadrangle and portions of the Flat Rock and Clyde quadrangles, Ohio

Karst terrain forms by dissolution of carbonate rocks, such as limestone or dolomite, or evaporites, such as gypsum or salt, and is characterized by features including sinkholes, disappearing streams, caves, and springs. Sinkholes (or sinks) are enclosed depressions that do not usually hold water; they often have a “throat” or opening at the bottom where they drain to the subsurface. When a stream flows into a sinkhole, it is known as a disappearing stream or losing stream. Water flowing into the ground can cause solution enlargement of natural fractures in the rock and eventually can grow into caves. In Ohio, a cave is defined as “…a naturally occurring void, cavity, recess, or system of interconnecting passages beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge…” The many passageways formed in karst terrain allow for high connectivity between the land surface and the water table. These passageways permit water to bypass soil and rock layers that filter out contaminants. Consequently, when compounds such as fertilizers, pesticides, and waste enter sinkholes, they are rapidly transported to the water table and quickly pollute water wells, streams, and rivers. When water exits these solutional features, a spring is formed. Such springs enable release of these contaminants at the surface. The different types of karst features may pose infrastructure complications; roads, utilities, houses, and other facilities built in karst areas are at risk of subsidence, collapse, or other damage. In order to provide a reference for future planning on both the local and regional scale, the Ohio Geological Survey has produced this map book identifying the known and suspected karst areas in the vicinity of Bellevue, Ohio, including portions of Erie, Huron, Sandusky, and Seneca Counties

Costing total hip arthroplasty in a South African state tertiary hospital

Background. Most South Africans depend on the public sector for health services. There is an increasing demand for arthroplasty in the public sector, but a paucity of academic data regarding its cost.Objectives. To: (i) identify the factors that determine the cost of an uncomplicated primary hip arthroplasty; and (ii) make recommendations on cost optimisation.Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Patients who met the inclusion criteria had their hospital financial records reviewed from October 2015 to March 2017. Six cost centres were utilised: inpatient admission, theatre and anaesthesia, ambulatory, prosthesis, physiotherapy and blood bank. The data were statistically analysed.Results. Fifty-five patients met the study inclusion criteria. Data were stratified into categories. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the data, and significant differences were found in the prosthesis, inpatient admission and ambulatory cost centres at a 95% significance level. The least significant difference was used to test the ANOVA results that paired significant categories. No cost centre showed significance over the other categories. Data for the six cost centres were compared with the current literature and industry best practice. Eight recommendations are made.Conclusions. The study showed that clinicians need to be aware of procedural costing in the current financial climate. There are still opportunities to optimise cost containment in the state sector.

Pemukiman sebagai kesatuan ekosistem daerah Kalimantan Tengah

Berdasarkan evaluasi perkembangan desa yang dilaksanakan secara berkala setiap tahun cukup menggembirakan. Sejak tahun 1974 sampai dengan 1978, jumlah desa swadaya makin berkurang. Sementara itu , proporsi desa swakarya dan desa swasembada makin besar. Perkembangan ini nampaknya sejalan dengan makin terbukanya isolasi daerah terpencil karena masuknya transmigrasi ke daerah ini. Pada tahun 1974 di Propinsi Kalimantan Tengah terdapat 883 buah desa swadaya, sedangkan pada 1978 berkurang menjadi 706. Desa swakarya yang pada tahun 1974 berjumlah 199 buah, pada tahun 1978 meningkat menjadi 341. Desa swasembada yang pada tahun 1974 berjumlah 25 buah, pada tahun 1978 meningkat menjadi 61 buah

Surfactant therapy for meconium aspiration syndrome in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital – A case series

Introduction: Meconium staining of amniotic fluid (MSAF) is a natural phenomenon in pregnant mothers and their fetuses. MSAF may lead to developing Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). Surfactant replacement therapy has recently emerged as a therapy in MAS, but no guideline outlines how to administer it properly. Case Presentation: We present two term neonates with severe MAS cases focusing on the bolus surfactant replacement therapy. The first baby was given surfactant at 23 hours after birth and the second baby at 8 hours after birth. We used Survanta (beractant) in the dose of 100 mg/kg BW in both cases. Clinical improvement was observed 24 hours after surfactant bolus administration with different clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and outcomes.Conclusion: In conclusion, therapeutic surfactant bolus in severe MAS may improve outcomes without significant adverse side effects

Risk mapping of Rinderpest sero-prevalence in Central and Southern Somalia based on spatial and network risk factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In contrast to most pastoral systems, the Somali livestock production system is oriented towards domestic trade and export with seasonal movement patterns of herds/flocks in search of water and pasture and towards export points. Data from a rinderpest survey and other data sources have been integrated to explore the topology of a contact network of cattle herds based on a spatial proximity criterion and other attributes related to cattle herd dynamics. The objective of the study is to integrate spatial mobility and other attributes with GIS and network approaches in order to develop a predictive spatial model of presence of rinderpest.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A spatial logistic regression model was fitted using data for 562 point locations. It includes three statistically significant continuous-scale variables that increase the risk of rinderpest: home range radius, herd density and clustering coefficient of the node of the network whose link was established if the sum of the home ranges of every pair of nodes was equal or greater than the shortest distance between the points. The sensitivity of the model is 85.1% and the specificity 84.6%, correctly classifying 84.7% of the observations. The spatial autocorrelation not accounted for by the model is negligible and visual assessment of a semivariogram of the residuals indicated that there was no undue amount of spatial autocorrelation. The predictive model was applied to a set of 6176 point locations covering the study area. Areas at high risk of having serological evidence of rinderpest are located mainly in the coastal districts of Lower and Middle Juba, the coastal area of Lower Shabele and in the regions of Middle Shabele and Bay. There are also isolated spots of high risk along the border with Kenya and the southern area of the border with Ethiopia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The identification of point locations and areas with high risk of presence of rinderpest and their spatial visualization as a risk map will be useful for informing the prioritization of disease surveillance and control activities for rinderpest in Somalia. The methodology applied here, involving spatial and network parameters, could also be applied to other diseases and/or species as part of a standardized approach for the design of risk-based surveillance activities in nomadic pastoral settings.</p