Coronal Thick Target Hard X Ray Emissions and Radio Emissions

Recently a distinctive class of hard X ray (HXR) sources located in the corona was found, which implies that the collisionally thick target model (CTTM) applies even to the corona. We investigated whether this idea can independently be verified by microwave radiations that have been known as the best companion to HXRs. The study is made for the GOES M2.3 class flare occurred on 2002 September 9 that were observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) and the Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA). Interpreting the observed energy dependent variation of HXR source size under the CTTM the coronal density should be as high as $5\times 10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$ over the distance up to 12$"$. To explain the cut-off feature of microwave spectrum at 3 GHz, we however, need density no higher than $1\times 10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$. Additional constraints need to be placed on temperature and magnetic field of the coronal source in order to reproduce the microwave spectrum as a whole. Firstly, a spectral feature called the Razin suppression requires the magnetic field in a range of 250--350 gauss along with high viewing angles around 75$^{\rm o}$. Secondly, to avoid excess fluxes at high frequencies due to the free-free emission that were not observed, we need a high temperature $\geq2\times 10^7$ K. These two microwave spectral features, Razzin suppression and free-free emissions, become more significant at regions of high thermal plasma density and are essential for validating and for determining additional parameters for the coronal HXR sources.Comment: APJ Letters, in pres

Do third-year mental health nursing students feel prepared to assess physical health?

Background The life expectancy for people with mental health issues is significantly lower than the general population, however, their physical health needs are often unrecognised by health professionals. Aim To investigate whether third-year mental health nursing students are clinically prepared to undertake a pre-defined set of physical health checks. Method A 34-item questionnaire was completed by two cohorts of mental health nursing students in their third and final year. Participants self-reported on their competence to assess a range of physical health checks. 37 questionnaires were completed and analysed. Findings Three groups emerged: group 1 – 100% of students self-declared competence in assessments including temperature and pulse, group 2 – more than 50% of students self-declared competence in assessments including urinalysis and pulse oximetry, and group 3 – less than 50% of students self-declared competence in taking electrocardiograms and using the hydration assessment tool. Conclusion The student participants of this study were not adequately prepared to undertake a complete range of physical health assessments for people with mental health issues

Understanding the Metabolic and Genetic Regulation of Breast Cancer Recurrence Using Magnetic Resonance-Based Integrative Metabolomics

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women and is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the female population worldwide. In these women, breast cancer recurrence--local, regional, or distant--represents the principal cause of death from this disease. The mechanisms underlying tumor recurrence remain largely unknown. To dissect those mechanisms, our laboratory has developed inducible transgenic mouse models that accurately recapitulate key features of the natural history of human breast cancer progression: primary tumor development, tumor dormancy and recurrence. Dysregulated metabolism has long been known to be a key feature in tumorigenesis. Yet, very little is known about the connection, if any, between cellular metabolic changes and breast cancer recurrence. In this work, I design and implement a systems engineering-based approach, magnetic resonance-based integrative metabolomics, to better understand the metabolic and genetic regulation of breast cancer recurrence. Through a combination of 1H and 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), mass spectrometry (MS) as well as gene expression profiling and functional metabolic and genetic studies, I aim to identify the metabolic profile of mammary tumors during breast cancer progression, identify the molecular basis and role of differential glutamine uptake and metabolism in breast cancer recurrence and finally, investigate the molecular basis and role of differential lactate production in breast cancer recurrence. The findings suggest an evolving metabolic phenotype of tumors during breast cancer progression as well as metabolic dysregulation in some of the key regulatory nodes that control that evolution. Identifying the metabolic changes associated with tumor recurrence can pave the way for identifying novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutic targets that can contribute to improved clinical management and outcome for breast cancer patients