Neuroimaging of Prayer: Questions of Validity

Studies investigating the brain in relation to religious experiences via neuroimaging tools have increased considerably. Most assume without verification that religious experience (e.g., prayer) while inside an imaging machine is the same as in normal settings. Addressing the validity of this assumption, we utilized a mock fMRI to compare self-reported typical prayer experience and 3 experimental conditions (silent room, initial fMRI, and acclimated fMRI). Forty-two individuals participated. In multiple aspects the “typical” and silent room conditions were indistinguishable; however, typical and fMRI conditions differed significantly. In sum, it was not clear what previous studies measured. These findings highlight the need for imaging research exploring religious experiences to include thorough debriefing protocols to disambiguate interpretations and facilitate meta-analytic efforts

Proposed host galaxies of repeating fast radio burst sources detected by CHIME/FRB

We present a search for host galaxy associations for the third set of repeating fast radio burst (FRB) sources discovered by the CHIME/FRB Collaboration. Using the ~1 arcmin CHIME/FRB baseband localizations and probabilistic methods. We identify potential host galaxies of two FRBs, 20200223B and 20190110C at redshifts of 0.06024(2) and 0.12244(6), respectively. We also discuss the properties of a third marginal candidate host galaxy association for FRB 20191106C with a host redshift of 0.10775(1). The three putative host galaxies are all relatively massive, fall on the standard mass-metallicity relationship for nearby galaxies, and show evidence of ongoing star formation. They also all show signatures of being in a transitional regime, falling in the "green valley" which is between the bulk of star-forming and quiescent galaxies. The plausible host galaxies identified by our analysis are consistent with the overall population of repeating and non-repeating FRB hosts while increasing the fraction of massive and bright galaxies. Coupled with these previous host associations, we identify a possible excess of FRB repeaters whose host galaxies have M_u - M_r colors redder than the bulk of star-forming galaxies. Additional precise localizations are required to confirm this trend.Comment: 11 pages, submitted to AAS journal

Comparison of Caregiver- and Child-Reported Quality of Life in Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Objective. Caregivers frequently report poor quality of life(QOL) in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).Our objective is to assess the correlation between care-giver- and child-reported QOL in children with mild SDBand identify factors associated with differences between caregiver and child report. Study Design. Analysis of baseline data from a multi-institutional randomized trialSetting. Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring, where children with mild SDB (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index\3) were randomized to observation or adenotonsillectomy. Methods. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds QL)assessed baseline global QOL in participating children 5 to12 years old and their caregivers. Caregiver and child scores were compared. Multivariable regression assessed whether clinical factors were associated with differences between caregiver and child report. Results. Peds QL scores were available for 309 families (mean child age, 7.0 years). The mean caregiver-reported PedsQLscore was higher at 75.2 (indicating better QOL) than the mean child-reported score of 67.9 (P \ .001). The agreement between caregiver and child total Peds QL scores was poor, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.03 (95%CI, –0.09 to 0.15) for children 5 to 7 years old and 0.21(95% CI, 0.03-0.38) for children 8 to 12 years old. Higher child age and health literacy were associated with closer agreement between caregiver and child report. Conclusion. Caregiver- and child-reported global QOL in children with SDB was weakly correlated, more so for young children. In pediatric SDB, child-perceived QOL may be poorer than that reported by caregivers. Further research is needed to assess whether similar trends exist for disease-specific QOL metrics

Multiwavelength Constraints on the Origin of a Nearby Repeating Fast Radio Burst Source in a Globular Cluster

Since fast radio bursts (FRBs) were discovered, their precise origins have remained a mystery. Multiwavelength observations of nearby FRB sources provide one of the best ways to make rapid progress in our understanding of the enigmatic FRB phenomenon. We present results from a sensitive, broadband multiwavelength X-ray and radio observational campaign of FRB 20200120E, the closest known extragalactic repeating FRB source. At a distance of 3.63 Mpc, FRB 20200120E resides in an exceptional location, within a ~10 Gyr-old globular cluster in the M81 galactic system. We place deep limits on both the persistent X-ray luminosity and prompt X-ray emission at the time of radio bursts from FRB 20200120E, which we use to constrain possible progenitors for the source. We compare our results to various classes of X-ray sources and transients. In particular, we find that FRB 20200120E is unlikely to be associated with: ultraluminous X-ray bursts (ULXBs), similar to those observed from objects of unknown origin in other extragalactic globular clusters; giant flares, like those observed from Galactic and extragalactic magnetars; or most intermediate flares and very bright short X-ray bursts, similar to those seen from magnetars in the Milky Way. We show that FRB 20200120E is also unlikely to be powered by a persistent or transient ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) source or a young, extragalactic pulsar embedded in a Crab-like nebula. We also provide new constraints on the compatibility of FRB 20200120E with accretion-based FRB models involving X-ray binaries and models that require a synchrotron maser process from relativistic shocks to generate FRB emission. These results highlight the power that multiwavelength observations of nearby FRBs can provide for discriminating between potential FRB progenitor models.Comment: 58 pages, 10 figures, 7 tables, submitte

Drug Release Kinetics from Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogels for Wound Dressings

Prolonged field care (PFC) for treatment of battlefield and trauma injuries requires the advancement of wound management techniques in order to prevent loss of life or limb prior to hospitalization in austere combat locations where medical evacuation is delayed. The goal of this project is to design a hydrogel wound dressing capable of providing sustained release of antibiotics, analgesics, and hemostatic agents over a three-day period. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels were fabricated through crosslinking using redox initiators – ammonium persulfate (APS) and tetramethylethylene diamine (TEMED). Hydrogels were characterized through the mass swelling ratio (qm) to determine the mesh size (ξ) and thus qualitatively predict the release kinetics of the therapeutic drugs. Hydrogels with incorporated therapeutic drug were placed in known volumes of deionized water, from which aliquots were taken at set time intervals. A UV Visible Spectrophotometer determined the aliquots’ absorbance which determined the cumulative release kinetics. Ultimately, three-day sustained release of the therapeutic drugs from the PEG hydrogel was achieved through retarding the diffusion of the therapeutic drugs by incorporating acrylic acid

Bioregional assessment project: Sydney Metropolitan, Southern Rivers and Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchments: data collation phase to study the impact of mining activity and coal seam gas on environmental assets

This study was commissioned by the Hawkesbury-Nepean (HNCMA), Sydney Metropolitan (SMCMA) and Southern Rivers (SRCMA) Catchment Management Authorities and undertaken by the University of Wollongong to collate existing data and to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential impacts of coal seam gas (CSG) and coal mining activities on environmental assets within the three CMA regions, where environmental assets were defined under three broad themes; water, land and biodiversity. This study formed part of the Australian Federal Government’s Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) Bioregional Assessment initiative within regions potentially affected by CSG and coal mining activities. The key components of this study included: Creating a database (using on the SEWPaC supplied template) identifying key environmental assets (groundwater, surface water, wetlands, land use, soils, vegetation and threatened species) within each of the three CMA regions. Providing a list of the key GIS datasets used to compile the database and their sources. Providing this report which outlines findings in relation to potential impacts and hazards of coal seam gas and mining activity on these environmental assets. Identifying knowledge and data gaps, and providing recommendations for future research

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Proposed Host Galaxies of Repeating Fast Radio Burst Sources Detected by CHIME/FRB

We present a search for host galaxy associations for the third set of repeating fast radio burst (FRB) sources discovered by the CHIME/FRB Collaboration. Using the ∼1′ CHIME/FRB baseband localizations and probabilistic methods, we identify potential host galaxies of two FRBs, 20200223B and 20190110C at redshifts of 0.06024(2) and 0.12244(6), respectively. We also discuss the properties of a third marginal candidate host galaxy association for FRB 20191106C with a host redshift of 0.10775(1). The three putative host galaxies are all relatively massive, fall on the standard mass–metallicity relationship for nearby galaxies, and show evidence of ongoing star formation. They also all show signatures of being in a transitional regime, falling in the green valley , which is between the bulk of star-forming and quiescent galaxies. The plausible host galaxies identified by our analysis are consistent with the overall population of repeating and nonrepeating FRB hosts while increasing the fraction of massive and bright galaxies. Coupled with these previous host associations, we identify a possible excess of FRB repeaters whose host galaxies have M _u − M _r colors redder than the bulk of star-forming galaxies. Additional precise localizations are required to confirm this trend