501 research outputs found
The Chandra X-Ray Optics
Significant advances in science always take place when the state of the art
in instrumentation improves dramatically. NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory
represents such an advance. Launched in July of 1999, Chandra is an observatory
designed to study the x-ray emission from all categories of astronomical
objects --- from comets, planets, and normal stars to quasars, galaxies, and
clusters of galaxies. At the heart of this observatory is the precision X-Ray
optic that has been vital for Chandra's outstanding success and which features
an angular resolution improved by an order of magnitude compared to its
forerunners. The Chandra mission is now entering its 13-th year of operation.
Given that the Observatory was designed for a minimum of 3 years of operation
testifies to its robust and carefully thought out design. We review the design
and construction of the remarkable telescope, present examples of its usage for
astronomy and astrophysics, and speculate upon the future.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, invited paper for Optical Engineerin
Predictors of Parent Engagement Based on Child Care Providersâ Perspectives
Objective: Determine the predictors of child care providersâ parent engagement regarding child nutrition in child care centers (CCCs) and family child care homes (FCCHs).
Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Child care centers and FCCHs. Participants: Child care center directors (n = 337) and FCCH providers (n = 1,153) completed a self-administered survey.
Main outcome measures: Fifteen variables were examined as predictors for parent engagement: providersâ perceived barriers to communication, participation in Go Nutrition and Physical Self-Assessment in Child Care, National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation, participation in Quality Ratings and Improvement Systems, feeding practices, and professional development.
Analysis: Structural equation modeling examined the relation between variables for CCCs and for FCCHs.
Results: For CCCs, NAEYC accreditation, providersâ perceived barriers regarding parentsâ cultural beliefs about food, parents not liking the taste of healthy foods, and parents prioritizing other food-related topics over healthy eating significantly predicted parent engagement. For FCCHs, participation in Go Nutrition and Physical Self-Assessment in Child Care, perceiving parents to be busy, not wanting to offend parents, and practicing family-style dining were significantly related to parent engagement. For both CCCs and FCCHs, professional development regarding child nutrition was related to parent engagement.
Conclusions and implications: Focusing professional development on child care contexts and addressing providersâ perceived barriers may improve parent engagement
âRead for Nutritionâ programme improves preschool childrenâs liking and consumption of target vegetable
Objective: To determine whether the âRead for Nutritionâ programme would increase liking and consumption of broccoli (a target vegetable) in preschool children and test acceptability and practicality of the programme.
Design: Pilot pre-post intervention study, where childcare teachers received training and coaching followed by reading the book âMonsters Donât Eat Broccoliâ multiple times with the children during a three-week intervention.
Setting: Five classrooms of Educare, Lincoln, Nebraska in 2018.
Participants: Sixty-nine (11 to 16 children per classroom) preschool-aged children and sixteen teachers (minimum, three per classroom).
Results: Average total consumption of broccoli increased 35 % (0·14 ounces or 0·05th cup) after the âRead for Nutritionâ programme (t = 2·66; P = 0·01; 95 % CIs (0·035, 0·246)) for all children. Proportional consumption increased for children who received â„ five exposures to the book (t46 = 2·77; P = 0·008). Exposures to the book predicted proportional consumption (ÎČ = 0·365; P = 0·002). Liking of broccoli increased (W69 = 2·2, P = 0·03) as well. Teachers rated the programme as acceptable, practical and enjoyable to children and to themselves.
Conclusions: Programmes such as âRead for Nutritionâ have the potential to improve childrenâs vegetable liking and consumption in early care and education settings with only book readings and no exposure to a real vegetable
The Three-Dimensional Structure of Cassiopeia A
We used the Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Spectrograph to map nearly the
entire extent of Cassiopeia A between 5-40 micron. Using infrared and Chandra
X-ray Doppler velocity measurements, along with the locations of optical ejecta
beyond the forward shock, we constructed a 3-D model of the remnant. The
structure of Cas A can be characterized into a spherical component, a tilted
thick disk, and multiple ejecta jets/pistons and optical fast-moving knots all
populating the thick disk plane. The Bright Ring in Cas A identifies the
intersection between the thick plane/pistons and a roughly spherical reverse
shock. The ejecta pistons indicate a radial velocity gradient in the explosion.
Some ejecta pistons are bipolar with oppositely-directed flows about the
expansion center while some ejecta pistons show no such symmetry. Some ejecta
pistons appear to maintain the integrity of the nuclear burning layers while
others appear to have punched through the outer layers. The ejecta pistons
indicate a radial velocity gradient in the explosion. In 3-D, the Fe jet in the
southeast occupies a "hole" in the Si-group emission and does not represent
"overturning", as previously thought. Although interaction with the
circumstellar medium affects the detailed appearance of the remnant and may
affect the visibility of the southeast Fe jet, the bulk of the symmetries and
asymmetries in Cas A are intrinsic to the explosion.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 54 pages, 21 figures. For high resolution figures
and associated mpeg movie and 3D PDF files, see
http://homepages.spa.umn.edu/~tdelaney/pape
Nutrition Education Resources in North CarolinaâBased Head Start Preschool Programs: Administrator and Teacher Perceptions of Availability and Use
Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide new insight into common barriers to the availability and use of nutrition education (NE) resources in Head Start preschool programs based on administrator and teacher perceptions.
Methods: In-depth, semistructured phone interviews (n = 63) were conducted with administrators (n = 31) and teachers (n = 32) from North Carolinaâbased Head Start programs. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis to identify common themes.
Results: Five emergent themes were identified within the areas of NE resource availability and use and barriers to NE resource availability and use. Participants expressed desire for greater organization of existing NE material resources, increased community support, and professional development opportunities for teachers specific to NE. Funding and time constraints were reported as affecting NE resources.
Conclusions and Implications: Creative strategies for addressing NE resource availability and use and barriers (e.g., NE integration with educational standards) in Head Start are needed
Comparison of Parent and Child Ratings of Fruit and Vegetable Liking to Assess Parent Accuracy as Proxy Reporters
This study examined the accuracy of parent-report child fruit/ vegetable (FV) liking. Child/parent dyads (n = 24) were recruited from six Head Start preschools in North Carolina. Liking for 10 FVs was assessed using a validated pictorial tool for children; a similar scale was used for parents. Negative relationships were observed between parent/child for one fruit (grapes) and one vegetable (broccoli). Positive relationships were observed among oranges, grapes, and overall fruit rankings. Parents tended to rank childrenâs liking of fruits higher than their children, while children ranked liking vegetables higher. Findings suggest parents may not be accurate respondents for preschool childrenâs FV liking
Eating Smart and Moving More for Head Start: A Pilot Study
Our study examined the relationship between improved personal health behaviors of Head Start teachersâ and the promotion of positive health behaviors in their classroom. Thirty-three Head Start teachers across 7 centers received six 30-minute nutrition education lessons. Dietary intake, physical activity, and self-efficacy for promoting positive health behaviors in the classroom were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Significant improvements were observed for dietary intake and physical activity. Self-efficacy for promoting health behaviors in the classroom did not significantly improve. Additional education is needed to improve health promotion practices. Lessons learned contributed to program refinement. Implications for Extension are discussed
On the Expansion Rate, Age, and Distance of the Supernova Remnant G266.2-1.2 (Vela Jr.)
An analysis of Chandra ACIS data for two relatively bright and narrow
portions of the northwestern rim of G266.2-1.2 (a.k.a. RX J0852.0-4622 or Vela
Jr.) reveal evidence of a radial displacement of 2.40 +/- 0.56 arcsec between
2003 and 2008. The corresponding expansion rate (0.42 +/- 0.10 arcsec/yr or
13.6 +/- 4.2%/kyr) is about half the rate reported for an analysis of
XMM-Newton data from a similar, but not identical, portion of the rim over a
similar, but not identical, time interval (0.84 +/- 0.23 arcsec/yr, Katsuda et
al. 2008a). If the Chandra rate is representative of the remnant as a whole,
then the results of a hydrodynamic analysis suggest that G266.2-1.2 is between
2.4 and 5.1 kyr old if it is expanding into a uniform ambient medium (whether
or not it was produced by a Type Ia or Type II event). If the remnant is
expanding into the material shed by a steady stellar wind, then the age could
be as much as 50% higher. The Chandra expansion rate and a requirement that the
shock speed be greater than or equal to 1000 km/s yields a lower limit on the
distance of 0.5 kpc. An analysis of previously-published distance estimates and
constraints suggests G266.2-1.2 is no further than 1.0 kpc. This range of
distances is consistent with the distance to the nearer of two groups of
material in the Vela Molecular Ridge (0.7 +/- 0.2 kpc, Liseau et al. 1992) and
to the Vel OB1 association (0.8 kpc, Eggen 1982).Comment: 30 pages, 7 figure
Population Pharmacokinetics of Methylphenidate in Healthy Adults Emphasizing Novel and Known Effects of Several Carboxylesterase 1 (<i>CES1</i>) Variants
The aim of this study was to identify demographic and genetic factors that significantly affect methylphenidate (MPH) pharmacokinetics (PK), and may help explain interindividual variability and further increase the safety of MPH. dâMPH plasma concentrations, demographic covariates, and carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) genotypes were gathered from 122 healthy adults and analyzed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. The structural model that best described the data was a twoâcompartment disposition model with absorption transit compartments. Novel effects of rs115629050 and CES1 diplotypes, as well as previously reported effects of rs71647871 and body weight, were included in the final model. Assessment of the independent and combined effect of CES1 covariates identified several specific risk factors that may result in severely increased dâMPH plasma exposure
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