1,717 research outputs found
The Wyoming Survey for H-alpha. I. Initial Results at z ~ 0.16 and 0.24
The Wyoming Survey for H-alpha, or WySH, is a large-area, ground-based,
narrowband imaging survey for H-alpha-emitting galaxies over the latter half of
the age of the Universe. The survey spans several square degrees in a set of
fields of low Galactic cirrus emission. The observing program focuses on
multiple dz~0.02 epochs from z~0.16 to z~0.81 down to a uniform
(continuum+line) luminosity at each epoch of ~10^33 W uncorrected for
extinction (3sigma for a 3" diameter aperture). First results are presented
here for 98+208 galaxies observed over approximately 2 square degrees at
redshifts z~0.16 and 0.24, including preliminary luminosity functions at these
two epochs. These data clearly show an evolution with lookback time in the
volume-averaged cosmic star formation rate. Integrals of Schechter fits to the
extinction-corrected H-alpha luminosity functions indicate star formation rates
per co-moving volume of 0.009 and 0.014 h_70 M_sun/yr/Mpc^3 at z~0.16 and 0.24,
respectively. The formal uncertainties in the Schechter fits, based on this
initial subset of the survey, correspond to uncertainties in the cosmic star
formation rate density at the >~40% level; the tentative uncertainty due to
cosmic variance is 25%, estimated from separately carrying out the analysis on
data from the first two fields with substantial datasets.Comment: To appear in the Astronomical Journa
The H-alpha Luminosity Function and Star Formation Rate Volume Density at z=0.8 from the NEWFIRM H-alpha Survey
[Abridged] We present new measurements of the H-alpha luminosity function
(LF) and SFR volume density for galaxies at z~0.8. Our analysis is based on
1.18m narrowband data from the NEWFIRM H-alpha Survey, a comprehensive
program designed to capture deep samples of intermediate redshift emission-line
galaxies using narrowband imaging in the near-infrared. The combination of
depth ( erg s cm in H-alpha at
3) and areal coverage (0.82 deg) complements other recent H-alpha
studies at similar redshifts, and enables us to minimize the impact of cosmic
variance and place robust constraints on the shape of the LF. The present
sample contains 818 NB118 excess objects, 394 of which are selected as H-alpha
emitters. Optical spectroscopy has been obtained for 62% of the NB118 excess
objects. Empirical optical broadband color classification is used to sort the
remainder of the sample. A comparison of the LFs constructed for the four
individual fields reveals significant cosmic variance, emphasizing that
multiple, widely separated observations are required. The dust-corrected LF is
well-described by a Schechter function with L*=10^{43.00\pm0.52} ergs s^{-1},
\phi*=10^{-3.20\pm0.54} Mpc^{-3}, and \alpha=-1.6\pm0.19. We compare our
H-alpha LF and SFR density to those at z<1, and find a rise in the SFR density
\propto(1+z)^{3.4}, which we attribute to significant L* evolution. Our H-alpha
SFR density of 10^{-1.00\pm0.18} M_sun yr^{-1} Mpc^{-3} is consistent with UV
and [O II] measurements at z~1. We discuss how these results compare to other
H-alpha surveys at z~0.8, and find that the different methods used to determine
survey completeness can lead to inconsistent results. This suggests that future
surveys probing fainter luminosities are needed, and more rigorous methods of
estimating the completeness should be adopted as standard procedure.Comment: 19 pages (emulate-ApJ format), 16 figures, 5 tables, published in
ApJ. Modified to match ApJ versio
Promoting a Consistent Food Safety and Quality Message to the Dairy Industry: An Updated Resource for Extension Faculty, Veterinarians, and Dairy Advisors
A team from seven western states developed educational resources providing a consistent meat safety and quality message to dairy producers, farm advisors, and veterinarians. The team produced a Web site and CD-ROM, DairyBeef: Maximizing Quality & Profits, consisting of videos, narrated slide sets, and on-farm tools. An additional project translated much of the curriculum into language appropriate for farm labor in both English and Spanish. DairyBeef: Maximizing Quality & Profits will help Extension faculty, veterinarians, and dairy advisors assist dairy producers and their employees in understanding market cattle food safety and quality issues and management practices to address them
HPV Vaccine Reminders at the Point of Service: Efficacy and Missed Opportunities. A Claims Based Study within One Health Plan
Introduction: Our objective is to assess HPV vaccine series completion rates, whether on-screen Point of Service reminders (POS) make a difference, and missed opportunities for reminders to have an effect.
Methods: Retrospective, claims-based study of females aged 9-26 receiving an initial dose of HPV vaccine during 2 periods: before (period 1) and after (period 2) implementation of a POS reminder system in 1(“Change Group”) of 2 physician groups using EHRs for both periods. Completion rates, and missed opportunities during eligible periods were calculated for those with continuous enrollment in the health plan investigated.
Results: Completion rates within 1 year of the 1st dose were Period 1: 47% Change Group vs. 46% Control Group (p=0.847). Period 2: 50% Change group vs. 57% Control Group (p=0.158). No significant improvement occurred between the 2 periods in either group. Differences in 1 year completion rates by specialty of initiating provider or age group (≥18) were not significant.
During period 2, among those with continuous insurance plan enrollment in the Change Group, 43 patients received 1 dose and 46 received 2 doses. Of those receiving 1 dose, 30 (70%) had a visit to the same group within an eligible time period (median # visits: 2, range 1-20); of those completing 2 doses, 4 (9%) had a visit to the same group within an eligible period (median # visits: 1, range: 1-3). Among those receiving 1 dose, 25 (58%) had a visit to the same group and same specialty as the initial dose (median # visits: 1, range 1-8); for those having received 2 doses, 3 (6%) had a subsequent visit to same group and specialty (median # visits: 1, range 1-3).
Conclusion: POS reminder systems was not associated with improved completion rates. POS reminders are limited by infrequent visits among non-completers in an eligible period
Does Adding an Extra Educational Intervention Add Value? The DairyBeef Train-the-Trainers Program
Extension educators seek to facilitate change among their clientele through educational programs. However, some programs are more effective than others. In this study, a half-day trainers program in dairy quality assurance moved individuals from one stage of learning to another (evaluation to learning or to gaining experience). However, the addition of a single follow-up reminder and additional materials to help trainers teach more effectively did not result in greater use of the program materials to instruct dairy producers. Somewhere between a single reminder and multiple interventions lies a useful compromise to ensure adoption of training messages and taking action
Environmental Effects in Clusters: Modified Far-Infrared--Radio Relations within Virgo Cluster Galaxies
(abridged) We present a study on the effects of the intracluster medium (ICM)
on the interstellar medium (ISM) of 10 Virgo cluster spiral galaxies using {\it
Spitzer} far-infrared (FIR) and VLA radio continuum imaging. Relying on the
FIR-radio correlation within normal galaxies, we use our infrared data to
create model radio maps which we compare to the observed radio images. For 6 of
our sample galaxies we find regions along their outer edges that are highly
deficient in the radio compared with our models. We believe these observations
are the signatures of ICM ram pressure. For NGC 4522 we find the radio deficit
region to lie just exterior to a region of high radio polarization and flat
radio spectral index, although the total 20 cm radio continuum in this region
does not appear strongly enhanced. These characteristics seem consistent for
other galaxies with radio polarization data in the literature. The strength of
the radio deficit is inversely correlated with the time since peak pressure as
inferred from stellar population studies and gas stripping simulations,
suggesting the strength of the radio deficit is good indicator of the strength
of the current ram pressure. We also find that galaxies having {\it local}
radio {\it deficits} appear to have {\it enhanced global} radio fluxes. Our
preferred physical picture is that the observed radio deficit regions arise
from the ICM wind sweeping away cosmic-ray (CR) electrons and the associated
magnetic field, thereby creating synchrotron tails as observed for some of our
galaxies. We propose that CR particles are also re-accelerated by ICM-driven
shocklets behind the observed radio deficit regions which in turn enhances the
remaining radio disk brightness.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures; Astrophysical Journa
The H-alpha Luminosity Function and Star Formation Rate Volume Density at z=0.8 from the NEWFIRM H-alpha Survey
[Abridged] We present new measurements of the H-alpha luminosity function
(LF) and SFR volume density for galaxies at z~0.8. Our analysis is based on
1.18m narrowband data from the NEWFIRM H-alpha Survey, a comprehensive
program designed to capture deep samples of intermediate redshift emission-line
galaxies using narrowband imaging in the near-infrared. The combination of
depth ( erg s cm in H-alpha at
3) and areal coverage (0.82 deg) complements other recent H-alpha
studies at similar redshifts, and enables us to minimize the impact of cosmic
variance and place robust constraints on the shape of the LF. The present
sample contains 818 NB118 excess objects, 394 of which are selected as H-alpha
emitters. Optical spectroscopy has been obtained for 62% of the NB118 excess
objects. Empirical optical broadband color classification is used to sort the
remainder of the sample. A comparison of the LFs constructed for the four
individual fields reveals significant cosmic variance, emphasizing that
multiple, widely separated observations are required. The dust-corrected LF is
well-described by a Schechter function with L*=10^{43.00\pm0.52} ergs s^{-1},
\phi*=10^{-3.20\pm0.54} Mpc^{-3}, and \alpha=-1.6\pm0.19. We compare our
H-alpha LF and SFR density to those at z<1, and find a rise in the SFR density
\propto(1+z)^{3.4}, which we attribute to significant L* evolution. Our H-alpha
SFR density of 10^{-1.00\pm0.18} M_sun yr^{-1} Mpc^{-3} is consistent with UV
and [O II] measurements at z~1. We discuss how these results compare to other
H-alpha surveys at z~0.8, and find that the different methods used to determine
survey completeness can lead to inconsistent results. This suggests that future
surveys probing fainter luminosities are needed, and more rigorous methods of
estimating the completeness should be adopted as standard procedure.Comment: 19 pages (emulate-ApJ format), 16 figures, 5 tables, published in
ApJ. Modified to match ApJ versio
Developing Herd Health Education for and Assessing Risky Practices of Cow-Calf Producers
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an often unrecognized problem in cow-calf herds. We describe a program we used to help producers identify and avoid practices that could increase their herds\u27 risk for BRD. The greatest knowledge gains occurred for the topics of costs associated with BRD, BRD risks at the feedlot, and biosecurity measures. Through producer self-assessments, we found that the number of risky practices conducted by producers ranged from none to 22 per operation, averaging 10 per operation. Extension professionals should consider combining producer self-assessment with education on management as an effective strategy for informing producers of risks in their operations
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