Massive 70 micron quiet clumps I: evidence of embedded low/intermediate-mass star formation activity

Massive clumps, prior to the formation of any visible protostars, are the best candidates to search for the elusive massive starless cores. In this work we investigate the dust and gas properties of massive clumps selected to be 70 micron quiet, therefore good starless candidates. Our sample of 18 clumps has masses 300 < M < 3000 M_sun, radius 0.54 < R < 1.00 pc, surface densities Sigma > 0.05 g cm^-2 and luminosity/mass ratio L/M < 0.3. We show that half of these 70 micron quiet clumps embed faint 24 micron sources. Comparison with GLIMPSE counterparts shows that 5 clumps embed young stars of intermediate stellar mass up to ~5.5 M_sun. We study the clump dynamics with observations of N2H+ (1-0), HNC (1-0) and HCO+ (1-0) made with the IRAM 30m telescope. Seven clumps have blue-shifted spectra compatible with infall signatures, for which we estimate a mass accretion rate 0.04 < M_dot < 2.0 x 10^-3 M_sun yr^-1, comparable with values found in high-mass protostellar regions, and free-fall time of the order of t_ff = 3 x 10^5 yr. The only appreciable difference we find between objects with and without embedded 24 micron sources is that the infall rate appears to increase from 24 micron dark to 24 micron bright objects. We conclude that all 70 micron quiet objects have similar properties on clump scales, independently of the presence of an embedded protostar. Based on our data we speculate that the majority, if not all of these clumps may already embed faint, low-mass protostellar cores. If these clumps are to form massive stars, this must occur after the formation of these lower mass stars.Comment: 44 pages, 11 Figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

A Catalog of MIPSGAL Disk and Ring Sources

We present a catalog of 416 extended, resolved, disk- and ring-like objects as detected in the MIPSGAL 24 micron survey of the Galactic plane. This catalog is the result of a search in the MIPSGAL image data for generally circularly symmetric, extended "bubbles" without prior knowledge or expectation of their physical nature. Most of the objects have no extended counterpart at 8 or 70 micron, with less than 20% detections at each wavelength. For the 54 objects with central point sources, the sources are nearly always seen in all IRAC bands. About 70 objects (16%) have been previously identified, with another 35 listed as IRAS sources. Among the identified objects, those with central sources are mostly listed as emission-line stars, but with other source types including supernova remnants, luminous blue variables, and planetary nebulae. The 57 identified objects (of 362) without central sources are nearly all PNe (~90%).which suggests that a large fraction of the 300+ unidentified objects in this category are also PNe. These identifications suggest that this is primarily a catalog of evolved stars. Also included in the catalog are two filamentary objects that are almost certainly SNRs, and ten unusual compact extended objects discovered in the search. Two of these show remarkable spiral structure at both 8 and 24 micron. These are likely background galaxies previously hidden by the intervening Galactic plane

Robust machine learning segmentation for large-scale analysis of heterogeneous clinical brain MRI datasets

Every year, millions of brain MRI scans are acquired in hospitals, which is a figure considerably larger than the size of any research dataset. Therefore, the ability to analyse such scans could transform neuroimaging research. Yet, their potential remains untapped, since no automated algorithm is robust enough to cope with the high variability in clinical acquisitions (MR contrasts, resolutions, orientations, artefacts, subject populations). Here we present SynthSeg+, an AI segmentation suite that enables, for the first time, robust analysis of heterogeneous clinical datasets. In addition to whole-brain segmentation, SynthSeg+ also performs cortical parcellation, intracranial volume estimation, and automated detection of faulty segmentations (mainly caused by scans of very low quality). We demonstrate SynthSeg+ in seven experiments, including an ageing study on 14,000 scans, where it accurately replicates atrophy patterns observed on data of much higher quality. SynthSeg+ is publicly released as a ready-to-use tool to unlock the potential of quantitative morphometry.Comment: under review, extension of MICCAI 2022 pape

HOPS 383: An Outbursting Class 0 Protostar in Orion

We report the dramatic mid-infrared brightening between 2004 and 2006 of HOPS 383, a deeply embedded protostar adjacent to NGC 1977 in Orion. By 2008, the source became a factor of 35 brighter at 24 microns with a brightness increase also apparent at 4.5 microns. The outburst is also detected in the submillimeter by comparing APEX/SABOCA to SCUBA data, and a scattered-light nebula appeared in NEWFIRM K_s imaging. The post-outburst spectral energy distribution indicates a Class 0 source with a dense envelope and a luminosity between 6 and 14 L_sun. Post-outburst time-series mid- and far-infrared photometry shows no long-term fading and variability at the 18% level between 2009 and 2012. HOPS 383 is the first outbursting Class 0 object discovered, pointing to the importance of episodic accretion at early stages in the star formation process. Its dramatic rise and lack of fading over a six-year period hint that it may be similar to FU Ori outbursts, although the luminosity appears to be significantly smaller than the canonical luminosities of such objects.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters, 6 pages, 4 figures; v2 has an updated email address for the lead autho

The Black Progress Index in Mountain West Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

This fact sheet examines data from the Brookings Institution report, “Black Progress Index: Examining Social Factors That Influence Black Well-Being” authored by Andre Perry and Jonathan Rothwell in September 2022. The Black Progress Index (BPI) score is constructed using data and social factors that impact life expectancy for Black Americans. This fact sheet compares the BPI with the actual life expectancy of Black people in Mountain West metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). This fact sheet also examines each of the 13 variables included in the original report to present the BPI in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA

Core Reference Sets Of Sorghum And Musa : From A Whole Collection To A Mini Core Collection And Back

The ‘core’ approach for investigating genetic diversity in a crop germplasm collection has proven merits, among which the possibility to choose a sample of manageable size (e.g. a ‘minicore’), so that it can be studied in details, be exchanged.....

Water Efficiency & Sustainability in the Mountain West, 2022

This fact sheet analyzes the effectiveness of state-level policies related to water usage, conservation, and sustainability for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in 2022. The original data are published in the “2022 State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability” report written by the Alliance for Water Efficiency

Recycling in the Mountain West

This fact sheet synthesizes data on rates of recycling from the March 2021 report 50 States of Recycling, sponsored by the Ball Corporation.The information presented in this document focuses on the effectiveness of recycling in total and by recyclable item, as well as the quantity of product recycled specifically within the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah

Важлива складова національної безпеки (Проблеми захисту науково-технічної інформації)

У статті порушується проблема забезпечення захисту інформаційних ресурсів у науково- технічній сфері. Обґрунтовується значення науково-технологічного потенціалу для економічного і соціального розвитку України. Доводиться необхідність ґрунтовної розробки відповідної нормативно-правової бази.The article is dedicated to the problem of ensuring of protection of information resources in scientific-technical sphere, significance of the scientific-technological potential for economical and social growth of Ukraine is grounded. Necessity of well-founded development of correspondent normative and legal base is proved

Air Quality in the Mountain West, 2018-2020

This fact sheet examines the state of air quality, including ozone levels and particle pollution, throughout the Mountain West from 2018 to 2020. Data from the American Lung Association “State of the Air” report is used to determine the quality of air in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah