The Citizen-Focused Account of the State

Book review: The Constitutional State. N. W. Barber. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Pp. xiii + 199. Reviewed by Bradley W. Miller

The Citizen-Focused Account of the State

Book review: The Constitutional State. N. W. Barber. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Pp. xiii + 199. Reviewed by Bradley W. Miller

The Luminosity Functions of Old and Intermediate-Age Globular Clusters in NGC 3610

The WFPC2 Camera on board HST has been used to obtain high-resolution images of NGC 3610, a dynamically young elliptical galaxy. These observations supersede shorter, undithered HST observations where an intermediate-age population of globular clusters was first discovered. The new observations show the bimodal color distribution of globular clusters more clearly, with peaks at (V-I)o = 0.95 and 1.17. The luminosity function (LF) of the blue, metal-poor population of clusters in NGC 3610 turns over, consistent with a Gaussian distribution with a peak Mv ~= -7.0, similar to old globular-cluster populations in ellipticals. The red, metal-rich population of clusters has a LF that is more extended toward both the bright and faint ends, as expected for a cluster population of inter-mediate age. It is well fit by a power law with an exponent of alpha = -1.78 +-0.05, or -1.90+-0.07 when corrected for observational scatter. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test confirms the significant difference between the LFs of the red and blue clusters, with a probability of less than 0.1% that they come from the same population. A comparison with the Fall & Zhang cluster disruption models shows marginal agreement with the observed LF, although there are differences in detail. In particular, there is no clear evidence of the predicted turnover at the faint end. A by-product of the analysis is the demonstration that, at any given metallicity, the peak of the LF should remain nearly constant from 1.5 Gyr to 12 Gyr, since the effect of the disruption of faint clusters is almost perfectly balanced by the fading of the clusters. This may help explain the apparent universality of the peak of the globular cluster luminosity function. (Abridged)Comment: 32 pages, LaTeX, 13 PS figures, 1 table; to appear in AJ (July 2002

Biological inventory of the Southern Nevada Water Project, second stage

The present report is a biological inventory of the Southern Nevada Water Project, Second Stage. The boundaries of the project encompass sections of North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, East Las Vegas and areas along Las Vegas Wash extending to its drainage point in Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead. Therefore, it encompasses a wide array of ecological situations and landscapes ranging from essentially natural to various stages of urban development. This biological inventory presents basic ecological classifications, descriptions of vegetation, lists of vascular plants and vertebrates known to occur in the area. Each major group, i.e., plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are characterized ecologically by biotic community. Basic life history data are given for all species of vertebrates found on the project area. Species of special status such as threatened, endangered, protected or of game status are further discussed

The Luminosity Function of Young Star Clusters In "The Antennae" Galaxies (NGC 4038/4039)

The WFPC2 of the HST has been used to obtain high-resolution images of NGC 4038/4039 that go roughly 3 magnitudes deeper in V than previous observations made during Cycle 2 (-14 < M_V < -6). To first order the luminosity function (LF) is a power law, with exponent \alpha = -2.12 +/- 0.04. However, after decoupling the cluster and stellar LFs, which overlap in the range -9 < M_V < -6, we find an apparent bend in the young cluster LF at approximately M_V = -10.4. The LF has a power law exponent -2.6 +/- 0.2 in the brightward and -1.7 +/- 0.2 in the faintward. The bend corresponds to a mass ~ 10^5 M_{\odot}, only slightly lower than the characteristic mass of globular clusters in the Milky Way (~2x10^5 M_{\odot}). The star clusters of the Antennae appear slightly resolved, with median effective radii of 4 +/- 1 pc, similar to or perhaps slightly larger than those of globular clusters in our Galaxy. However, the radial extents of some of the very young clusters (ages < 10 Myr) are much larger than those of old globular clusters. A combination of the UBVI colors, \Halpha morphology, and GHRS spectra enables us to age-date the clusters in different regions of The Antennae. We find two groups of young star clusters with ages <~ 20Myr and ~100Myr, as well as an intermediate-age group (~500 Myr) and a handful of old globular clusters from the progenitor galaxies. Age estimates derived from GHRS spectroscopy yield 3 +/- 1 Myr for Knot K (just south of the nucleus of NGC 4038) and 7 +/- 1 Myr for Knot S in the Western Loop, in good agreement with ages derived from the UBVI colors. Effective gas-outflow velocities from Knots S and K are estimated to be about 25-30 km/s. However, the measured widths of the interstellar absorption lines suggest dispersion velocities of ~400 km/s along the lines of sight to Knots S and K.Comment: 56 pages, 4 tables and 23 figures, texts in AAS style, to be published in A

Substitution of the premembrane and envelope protein genes of Modoc virus with the homologous sequences of West Nile virus generates a chimeric virus that replicates in vertebrate but not mosquito cells

Background: Most known flaviviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), are maintained in natural transmission cycles between hematophagous arthropods and vertebrate hosts. Other flaviviruses such as Modoc virus (MODV) and Culex flavivirus (CxFV) have host ranges restricted to vertebrates and insects, respectively. The genetic elements that modulate the differential host ranges and transmission cycles of these viruses have not been identified. Methods: Fusion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to replace the capsid (C), premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) genes and the prM-E genes of a full-length MODV infectious cDNA clone with the corresponding regions of WNV and CxFV. Fusion products were directly transfected into baby hamster kidney-derived cells that stably express T7 RNA polymerase. At 4 days post-transfection, aliquots of each supernatant were inoculated onto vertebrate (BHK-21 and Vero) and mosquito (C6/36) cells which were then assayed for evidence of viral infection by reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot and plaque assay. Results: Chimeric virus was recovered in cells transfected with the fusion product containing the prM-E genes of WNV. The virus could infect vertebrate but not mosquito cells. The in vitro replication kinetics and yields of the chimeric virus were similar to MODV but the chimeric virus produced larger plaques. Chimeric virus was not recovered in cells transfected with any of the other fusion products. Conclusions: Our data indicate that genetic elements outside of the prM-E gene region of MODV condition its vertebrate-specific phenotype

The Specific Globular Cluster Frequencies of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies from the Hubble Space Telescope

The specific globular cluster frequencies (S_N) for 24 dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters and the Leo Group imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope are presented. Combining all available data, we find that for nucleated dEs --- which are spatially distributed like giant ellipticals in galaxy clusters --- S_N(dE,N)=6.5 +- 1.2 and S_N increases with M_V, while for non-nucleated dEs --- which are distributed like late-type galaxies --- S_N(dE,noN)=3.1 +- 0.5 and there is little or no trend with M_V. The S_N values for dE galaxies are thus on average significantly higher than those for late-type galaxies, which have S_N < 1. This suggests that dE galaxies are more akin to giant Es than to late-type galaxies. If there are dormant or stripped irregulars hiding among the dE population, they are likely to be among the non-nucleated dEs. Furthermore, the similarities in the properties of the globular clusters and in the spatial distributions of dE,Ns and giant Es suggest that neither galaxy mass or galaxy metallicity is responsible for high values of S_N. Instead, most metal-poor GCs may have formed in dwarf-sized fragments that merged into larger galaxies.Comment: 12 pages (uses aaspp4.sty), 2 figures, 1 table, to appear in the Astrophysical Journa

How do naloxone-based interventions work to reduce overdose deaths: a realist review

BACKGROUND: Naloxone-based interventions as part of health systems can reverse an opioid overdose. Previous systematic reviews have identified the effectiveness of naloxone; however, the role of context and mechanisms for its use has not been explored. This realist systematic review aims to identify a theory of how naloxone works based on the contexts and mechanisms that contribute to the success of the intervention for improved outcomes. METHODS: Pre-registered at PROSPERO, this realist review followed RAMESES standards of reporting. Keywords included 'naloxone' and ' opioid overdose'. All study designs were included. Data extraction using 55 relevant outputs based on realist logic produced evidence of two middle-range theories: Naloxone Bystander Intervention Theory and Skills Transfer Theory. RESULTS: Harm reduction and/or low threshold contexts provide a non-judgemental approach which support in-group norms of helping and empower the social identity of the trained and untrained bystander. This context also creates the conditions necessary for skills transfer and diffusion of the intervention into social networks. Stigma and negative attitudes held by first responders and stakeholders involved in the implementation process, such as police or GPs, can prohibit the bystander response by inducing fear in responding. This interferes with skills transfer, naloxone use and carriage of naloxone kits. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide theoretically informed guidance regarding the harm reduction contexts that are essential for the successful implementation of naloxone-based interventions. Peer-to-peer models of training are helpful as it reinforces social identity and successful skills transfer between bystanders. Health systems may want to assess the prevalence of, and take steps to reduce opioid-related stigma with key stakeholders in contexts using a low threshold training approach to build an environment  to support positive naloxone outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019141003. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12954-022-00599-4

Biological inventory in conjunction with the Las Vegas Wash Unit, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act Title II (P.L. 93-320)

The present report is a biological inventory in conjunction with the Las Vegas Wash Unit, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Title II. The boundaries of the project encompass sections of North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, East Las Vegas and areas along Las Vegas Wash extending to its drainage point in Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead. Therefore, it encompasses a wide array of ecological situations and landscapes ranging from essentially natural to various stages of urban development. This biological inventory presents basic ecological classifications, descriptions of vegetation, lists of vascular plants and vertebrates known to occur in the area. Each major group, i.e., plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are characterized ecologically by biotic community. Basic life history data are given for all species of vertebrates found on the project area. Species of special status such as threatened, endangered, protected or of game status are further discussed. Previous reports including biological data are the four quarterly reports from the Las Vegas Valley Water District to the Governor and the Legislative Commission (Sept. 1, 1971; Dec. 1, 1971; Mar. 1, 1972; June 1, 1972). The first three reports include summaries of the quarterly reports from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on the study by Bradley and Niles (1973) whereas, the June, 1972 report includes a summary Of the final report of Bradley and Niles (1973)