129 research outputs found
Dynamics of the Transition corona
Magnetic reconnection between open and closed magnetic field in the corona is
believed to play a crucial role in the corona/heliosphere coupling. At large
scale, the exchange of open/closed connectivity is expected to occur in
pseudo-streamer structures. However, there is neither clear observational
evidence of how such coupling occurs in pseudo-streamers, nor evidence for how
the magnetic reconnection evolves. Using a newly-developed technique, we
enhance the off-limb magnetic fine structures observed with AIA and identify a
pseudo-streamer-like feature located close to the northern coronal hole. After
extrapolating the magnetic field with the PFSS model, we obtain a
pseudo-streamer magnetic topology, null-point related topology bounded by open
field. We compare the magnetic configuration with the UV observations and
identify the magnetic structures expected to be involved in the event. Using an
3D MHD simulation of interchange reconnection, we showed that the evolution of
the UV structures follows the magnetic field dynamics and the UV emitting
structures have a pattern very similar to the plasma emission derived from the
simulation. Our results highlight that the exchange between open and closed in
the pseudo-streamer topology related to an observed event occurs at least
partially at the null-point, similarly to the interchange reconnection in a
single null-point topology. However, our results also indicate that the
interchange reconnection in pseudo-streamers is a gradual physical process
which opposes to the impulsive reconnection of the solar-jet model
Exploring the Transition Corona with the Coronal Spectrographic Imager in the EUV (COSIE)
No abstract availabl
Understanding How Ethnic and Cultural Minorities Perceive Peer Support and Recovery: Final Report
Overview: Mental health systems transformation has had the promotion of recovery and peer support at its core. In order to better understand how people of different cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds understand and interpret the concepts of mental health, mental illness, recovery and peer support, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) and MassHealth asked the Center for Health Policy and Research at UMass Medical School to conduct a study exploring these issues. Two specific cultural groups were identified to be the focus of this study – Latinos and individuals who are Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing (D/HH)
COSIE: The Coronal Spectrographic Imager in the EUV
COSIE is a solar-observing instrument (currently proposed for mounting onto the ISS) which obtains wide field images of the corona and full Sun spectral images with high sensitivity and rapid cadence. The primary purpose of the instrument is to constrain the global field topology and to track coronal mass ejections from the disk through the inner heliosphere
Evidence of Non-Thermal Particles in Coronal Loops Heated Impulsively by Nanoflares
The physical processes causing energy exchange between the Sun's hot corona
and its cool lower atmosphere remain poorly understood. The chromosphere and
transition region (TR) form an interface region between the surface and the
corona that is highly sensitive to the coronal heating mechanism. High
resolution observations with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)
reveal rapid variability (about 20 to 60 seconds) of intensity and velocity on
small spatial scales at the footpoints of hot dynamic coronal loops. The
observations are consistent with numerical simulations of heating by beams of
non-thermal electrons, which are generated in small impulsive heating events
called "coronal nanoflares". The accelerated electrons deposit a sizable
fraction of their energy in the chromosphere and TR. Our analysis provides
tight constraints on the properties of such electron beams and new diagnostics
for their presence in the nonflaring corona.Comment: Published in Science on October 17:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/346/6207/1255724 . 26 pages, 10 figures.
Movies are available at: http://www.lmsal.com/~ptesta/iris_science_mov
Assertive Community Treatment for People With Alcohol Dependence: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Aims: A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and potential efficacy of assertive community treatment (ACT) in adults with alcohol dependence.
Methods: Single blind, individually randomized, pilot RCT of 12 months of ACT plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU alone in adults (age 18+ years) with alcohol dependence and a history of previous unsuccessful alcohol treatment attending specialist community alcohol treatment services. ACT aimed to actively engage participants for 12 months with assertive, regular, minimum weekly
contact. ACT was combined with TAU. TAU comprised access to the full range of services provided by the community teams. Primary outcome is mean drinks per drinking day and percent days abstinent
at 12 months follow up. Analysis of covariance was conducted using 80% confidence intervals, appropriate in the context of a pilot trial.
Results: A total of 94 participants were randomized, 45 in ACT and 49 in TAU. Follow-up was achieved with 98 and 88%, respectively at 12 months. Those in ACT had better treatment engagement,
and were more often seen in their homes or local community than TAU participants. At 12 months the ACT group had more problems related to drinking and lower quality of life than TAU
but no differences in drinking measures. The ACT group had a higher percentage of days abstinent but lower quality of life at 6 months. The ACT group had less unplanned healthcare use than TAU.
Conclusions: An trial of ACT was feasible to implement in an alcohol dependent treatment population.
Trial registration: ISRCTN2277553
Pragmatic randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a multi-component intervention to reduce substance use and risk-taking behaviour in adolescents involved in the criminal justice system: A trial protocol (RISKIT-CJS)
Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental stage when young people make lifestyle choices that have the potential to impact on their current and future health and social wellbeing. The relationship between substance use and criminal activity is complex but there is clear evidence that the prevalence of problematic substance use is far higher among adolescent offenders than the general adolescent population. Adolescent offenders are a marginalized and vulnerable population who are significantly more likely to experience health and social inequalities in later life than their non-offending peers. There is a paucity of evidence on effective interventions to address substance use and risk-taking behaviours in adolescent offender populations but it is clear that preventative or abstinence orientated interventions are not effective. RISKIT-CJS is an intervention developed in collaboration with young people taking account of the current best evidence. Feasibility and pilot studies have found the intervention addresses the needs of adolescents, is acceptable and has demonstrated potential in reducing substance use and risk-taking behavior. Methods: The study is a mixed method, two-armed, prospective, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with individual randomisation to either treatment as usual alone or the RISKIT-CJS intervention in addition to treatment as usual. Adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years inclusive, engaged with the criminal justice system who are identified as having problematic substance use are eligible to participate. The study will be conducted across three geographical areas; South and South East England, London and North East England between March 2017 and February 2019. Discussion: The study represents an ambitious programme of work to address an area of need for a marginalized and vulnerable population
Pragmatic randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a multi-component intervention to reduce substance use and risk-taking behaviour in adolescents involved in the criminal justice system: A trial protocol (RISKIT-CJS)
Abstract
Background
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage when young people make lifestyle choices that have the potential to impact on their current and future health and social wellbeing. The relationship between substance use and criminal activity is complex but there is clear evidence that the prevalence of problematic substance use is far higher among adolescent offenders than the general adolescent population. Adolescent offenders are a marginalized and vulnerable population who are significantly more likely to experience health and social inequalities in later life than their non-offending peers.
There is a paucity of evidence on effective interventions to address substance use and risk-taking behaviours in adolescent offender populations but it is clear that preventative or abstinence orientated interventions are not effective. RISKIT-CJS is an intervention developed in collaboration with young people taking account of the current best evidence. Feasibility and pilot studies have found the intervention addresses the needs of adolescents, is acceptable and has demonstrated potential in reducing substance use and risk-taking behavior.
Methods
The study is a mixed method, two-armed, prospective, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with individual randomisation to either treatment as usual alone or the RISKIT-CJS intervention in addition to treatment as usual. Adolescents, aged 13 to 17Â years inclusive, engaged with the criminal justice system who are identified as having problematic substance use are eligible to participate. The study will be conducted across three geographical areas; South and South East England, London and North East England between March 2017 and February 2019.
Discussion
The study represents an ambitious programme of work to address an area of need for a marginalized and vulnerable population.
Trial registration
ISRCTN77037777
registered 15/09/2016
Determining the Frequency of Coronal Heating with the Marshall Grazing Incidence X-Ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS)
No abstract availabl
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