Comparing Chandra and SIRTF Observations for Obscured Starbursts and AGN at High Redshift

Tracking the star formation rate to high redshifts requires knowledge of the contribution from both optically visible and obscured sources. The dusty, optically-obscured galaxies can be located by X-ray and infrared surveys. To establish criteria for selecting such sources based only on X-ray and infrared surveys, we determine the ratio of infrared to X-ray brightness that would be observed by SIRTF and Chandra for objects with the same spectral shapes as nearby starbursts if seen at high redshift. The parameter IR/X is defined as IR/X = (flux density observed in SIRTF MIPS 24 $\mu$m filter in mJy)/(total flux observed within 0.5-2.0 keV in units of 10^-16 ergs\s\cm^2). Based on observations of NGC 4038/39 (``The Antennae''), NGC 3690+IC 694 (Arp 299 or Mkn 171), M 82, and Arp 220, nine starburst regions are compared using mid-infrared spectra taken by the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and X-ray spectra obtained with Chandra . The IR/X are determined as they would appear for 1<z<3. The mean IR/X over this redshift range is 1.3 and is not a significant function of redshift or luminosity, indicating that SIRTF surveys reaching 0.4 mJy at 24 $\mu$m should detect the same starbursts as deep CXO surveys detect at a flux of 0.3x10^-16 ergs/s/cm^2. The lower bound of IR/X for starbursts is about 0.2, suggesting that objects with IR/X smaller than this have an AGN X-ray component in addition to the starburst. Values of IR/X for the obscured AGN within NGC 1068, the Circinus galaxy, and NGC 6240 are also determined for comparison although interpretation is complicated by the circumnuclear starbursts in these galaxies. Any sources found in surveys having IR/X>4 would not match any of the objects considered.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap

Predicting Self-Management Behaviors in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Using an Integrated Theoretical Model: the Impact of Beliefs About Illnesses and Beliefs About Behaviors

Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are at markedly increased risk of coronary artery disease. Regular participation in three self-management behaviors, physical activity, healthy eating, and adherence to medication, can significantly reduce this risk in FH patients. We aimed to predict intentions to engage in these self-management behaviors in FH patients using a multi-theory, integrated model that makes the distinction between beliefs about illness and beliefs about self-management behaviors. Methods: Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, patients (N = 110) diagnosed with FH from a clinic in Perth, Western Australia, self-completed a questionnaire that measured constructs from three health behavior theories: the common sense model of illness representations (serious consequences, timeline, personal control, treatment control, illness coherence, emotional representations); theory of planned behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control); and social cognitive theory (self-efficacy). Results: Structural equation models for each self-management behavior revealed consistent and statistically significant effects of attitudes on intentions across the three behaviors. Subjective norms predicted intentions for health eating only and self-efficacy predicted intentions for physical activity only. There were no effects for the perceived behavioral control and common sense model constructs in any model. Conclusions: Attitudes feature prominently in determining intentions to engage in self-management behaviors in FH patients. The prominence of these attitudinal beliefs about self-management behaviors, as opposed to illness beliefs, suggest that addressing these beliefs may be a priority in the management of FH

Chemical Abundances Of Open Clusters From High-Resolution Infrared Spectra. I. NGC 6940

We present near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of 12 red giant members of the Galactic open cluster NGC 6940. High-resolution (R$\simeq$45000) and high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N > 100) near-infrared H and K band spectra were gathered with the Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrograph (IGRINS) on the 2.7m Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. We obtained abundances of H-burning (C, N, O), ${\alpha}$ (Mg, Si, S, Ca), light odd-Z (Na, Al, P, K), Fe-group (Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni) and neutron-capture (Ce, Nd, Yb) elements. We report the abundances of S, P, K, Ce, and Yb in NGC 6940 for the first time. Many OH and CN features in the H band were used to obtain O and N abundances. C abundances were measured from four different features: CO molecular lines in the K band, high excitation C I lines present in both near-infrared and optical, CH and $C_2$ bands in the optical region. We have also determined $^{12}C/^{13}C$ ratios from the R-branch band heads of first overtone (2-0) and (3-1) $^{12}CO$ (2-0) $^{13}CO$ lines near 23440 \overset{\lower.5em\circ}{\mathrm{A}} and (3-1) $^{13}CO$ lines at about 23730 \overset{\lower.5em\circ}{\mathrm{A}}. We have also investigated the HF feature at 23358.3 \overset{\lower.5em\circ}{\mathrm{A}}, finding solar fluorine abundances without ruling out a slight enhancement. For some elements (such as the ${\alpha}$ group), IGRINS data yield more internally self-consistent abundances. We also revisited the CMD of NGC 6940 by determining the most probable cluster members using Gaia DR2. Finally, we applied Victoria isochrones and MESA models in order to refine our estimates of the evolutionary stages of our targets.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Effect of dynamic stall on the aerodynamics of vertical-axis wind turbines

Accurate simulations of the aerodynamic performance of vertical-axis wind turbines pose a significant challenge for computational fluid dynamics methods. The aerodynamic interaction between the blades of the rotor and the wake that is produced by the blades requires a high-fidelity representation of the convection of vorticity within the wake. In addition, the cyclic motion of the blades induces large variations in the angle of attack on the blades that can manifest as dynamic stall. The present paper describes the application of a numerical model that is based on the vorticity transport formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations, to the prediction of the aerodynamics of a verticalaxis wind turbine that consists of three curved rotor blades that are twisted helically around the rotational axis of the rotor. The predicted variation of the power coefficient with tip speed ratio compares very favorably with experimental measurements. It is demonstrated that helical blade twist reduces the oscillation of the power coefficient that is an inherent feature of turbines with non-twisted blade configurations

A survey of antimicrobial use practices of Tennessee beef producers

Background Inappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) is a key modifiable factor that leads to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objectives of this study were to determine the following among Tennessee beef cattle producers: (1) the opinions on factors driving AMU (2) opinions on alternatives to antimicrobials, (3) the knowledge and perceptions regarding AMU and AMR, and (4) the preferred avenues for receiving information on prudent AMU. A survey questionnaire was made available to participants both in print and online from January 26, 2018 through May 11, 2018. The questions targeted the producers’ demographics and their AMU practices; factors driving producer’s choice of antimicrobials; perceptions, opinions and concerns about AMU and AMR in cattle production. Ordinal logistic regression was used to test for associations between the captured demographic information and producers’ degree of concern about AMR. Results Overall, 231 beef producers responded to all or some of the survey questions. More than 60% of the participants mentioned that they kept up-to-date written records on antimicrobial purchases and AMU. Regarding extra-label use, 169 (84.1%) of the 201 respondents did not practice extra-label AMU. Profitability of the beef operation was a key factor influencing the decisions of many producers to use antimicrobials for disease management and prevention on their farms. Of the 228 producers who completed the question on the rating of their degree of concern about AMR, 50 (21.9%) reported that they were very concerned about AMR, 133 (58.3%) were moderately concerned, and 36 (15.8%) reported that they were not concerned about AMR. Nine producers (4%) did not rate their degree of concern about AMR because they were not familiar with what antimicrobial resistance meant. The inferential analyses suggested that younger beef producers were significantly less concerned about AMR when compared to the older ones (P = 0.019). Regarding avenues for receiving information on prudent AMU, no single medium was most preferred by all the respondents. Conclusions There is a need to promote the use of written antimicrobial treatment protocols among beef producers in Tennessee. Continued training for beef producers on infection prevention and control and prudent AMU is needed

The Massive Thermal Basketball Diagram

The "basketball diagram" is a three-loop vacuum diagram for a scalar field theory that cannot be expressed in terms of one-loop diagrams. We calculate this diagram for a massive scalar field at nonzero temperature, reducing it to expressions involving three-dimensional integrals that can be easily evaluated numerically. We use this result to calculate the free energy for a massive scalar field with a phi^4 interaction to three-loop order.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure

Isolation and Characterization of Two Novel, Cytoplasmically Polyadenylated, Oocyte-Specific, Mouse Maternal RNAs

AbstractDuring early development in mouse andXenopus,translational activation of stored maternal mRNAs by cytoplasmic polyadenylation requires both the nuclear polyadenylation signal AAUAAA and U-richcis-acting adenylation control elements (ACEs), also termed cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements, located in the 3′ UTR. Using an ACE-based PCR strategy (Salléset al.,1992) we have isolated two novel cDNAs from mouse oocytes: OM2a and OM2b (for Oocyte Maturation). Each message contains an ACE consensus sequence upstream of AAUAAA, is specifically transcribed in the growing oocyte, and is cytoplasmically polyadenylated upon oocyte maturation. Comparison of the mouse and rat homologs reveals considerable nucleotide sequence homology and conservation of overall gene organization. However, the predicted open reading frames are far less conserved, suggesting that these genes may not be functioning as proteins. The tissue specificity and tight temporal regulation of the RNAs suggest a role for these genes during early development