Atmospheric monitoring in the mm and sub-mm bands for cosmological observations: CASPER2

Cosmological observations from ground at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths are affected by atmospheric absorption and consequent emission. The low and high frequency (sky noise) fluctuations of atmospheric performance imply careful observational strategies and/or instrument technical solutions. Measurements of atmospheric emission spectra are necessary for accurate calibration procedures as well as for site testing statistics. CASPER2, an instrument to explore the 90-450 GHz (3-15 1/cm) spectral region, was developed and verified its operation in the Alps. A Martin-Puplett Interferometer (MPI) operates comparing sky radiation, coming from a field of view (fov) of 28 arcminutes (FWHM) collected by a 62-cm in diameter Pressman-Camichel telescope, with a reference source. The two output ports of the interferometer are detected by two bolometers cooled down to 300 mK inside a wet cryostat. Three different and complementary interferometric techniques can be performed with CASPER2: Amplitude Modulation (AM), Fast-Scan (FS) and Phase Modulation (PM). An altazimuthal mount allows the sky pointing, possibly co-alligned to the optical axis of the 2.6-m in diameter telescope of MITO (Millimetre and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory, Italy). Optimal timescale to average acquired spectra is inferred by Allan variance analysis at 5 fiducial frequencies. We present the motivation for and design of the atmospheric spectrometer CASPER2. The adopted procedure to calibrate the instrument and preliminary performance of the instrument are described. Instrument capabilities were checked during the summer observational campaign at MITO in July 2010 by measuring atmospheric emission spectra with the three different procedures.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Millimeter and sub-millimeter atmospheric performance at Dome C combining radiosoundings and ATM synthetic spectra

The reliability of astronomical observations at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths closely depends on a low vertical content of water vapor as well as on high atmospheric emission stability. Although Concordia station at Dome C (Antarctica) enjoys good observing conditions in this atmospheric spectral windows, as shown by preliminary site-testing campaigns at different bands and in, not always, time overlapped periods, a dedicated instrument able to continuously determine atmospheric performance for a wide spectral range is not yet planned. In the absence of such measurements, in this paper we suggest a semi-empirical approach to perform an analysis of atmospheric transmission and emission at Dome C to compare the performance for 7 photometric bands ranging from 100 GHz to 2 THz. Radiosoundings data provided by the Routine Meteorological Observations (RMO) Research Project at Concordia station are corrected by temperature and humidity errors and dry biases and then employed to feed ATM (Atmospheric Transmission at Microwaves) code to generate synthetic spectra in the wide spectral range from 100 GHz to 2 THz. To quantify the atmospheric contribution in millimeter and sub-millimeter observations we are considering several photometric bands in which atmospheric quantities are integrated. The observational capabilities of this site at all the selected spectral bands are analyzed considering monthly averaged transmissions joined to the corresponding fluctuations. Transmission and pwv statistics at Dome C derived by our semi-empirical approach are consistent with previous works. It is evident the decreasing of the performance at high frequencies. We propose to introduce a new parameter to compare the quality of a site at different spectral bands, in terms of high transmission and emission stability, the Site Photometric Quality Factor.Comment: accepted to MNRAS with minor revision

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Student Perceptions of Bullying Based on Family, School, and Media Influences

Though many studies have been conducted on bullying and ways to prevent it, there is still little evidence that bullying has been reduced (Bauman, 2008). Since bullying behaviors have become prevalent, incidences of negative outcomes for students who are bullies and victims have increased, hence more discussion of the topic is taking place at school, home, and in the media (Bauman, 2008; Kaiser & Raminsky, 2001; Salmon, James, & Smith, 1998). This study proposes to learn how students make sense of these multiple messages. Through an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith & Osborn, 2003), 8-10 year old students were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, in addition to student drawings and elaborations from the draw-and write-technique (Williams, Wetton, & Moon, 1989). These methods were used to explore student bullying experiences and the process in which they make sense of the education provided to them. The study is framed through Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1994) ecological systems theory considering the multiple influences that individuals face through systems and their interactions. Data from the semi-structured interviews and the draw-and-write technique were analyzed through coding according to IPA guidelines, compared, and converged. Results showed that students confuse conflict with bullying, and receive conflicting messages about how bullying should be handled. Students are confused by what is the best reaction to a bullying situation due to conflicting messages from school and home, and the possibility of disappointment or trouble if they do not follow suggestions from one or the other. The media had minimal influence on children of this age in regards to bullying

Biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus across the greater Boston area

With a burgeoning population, increasing land area, and the emergence of new megacities, urban areas have the ability to alter biogeochemical cycles across great scales. Though cities are hotspots of pollution, these concentrated population centers present an opportunity to reduce the human footprint and provide a model of sustainability. Creating sustainable cities requires an understanding of urban biogeochemical cycles of nutrients, such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). Studies in urban areas, however, often include measurements at only a few sites, either in an urban-rural comparison or as an anchor along an urban-rural gradient. In my dissertation work, I deployed a network of sites across the greater Boston area to measure several key biogeochemical processes: 1) rates of carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux through soil respiration, 2) atmospheric inputs and soil solution concentrations of N, P, and organic C, and 3) rates of N mineralization and nitrification in soils. I found that urban soil respiration is driven by landowner management and that respiration from urban residential soils produces almost 75% of the CO2 as fossil fuel emissions in these areas during the growing season. I also found that mean fluxes of inorganic N in throughfall are double rural rates and vary more than threefold throughout the urban area, exhibiting rates at some urban sites which are as low as rural rates. These rates are driven by vehicular N emissions and local fertilizer inputs, and are decoupled from rates of soil biogeochemical cycling of C and N. Finally, I found atmospheric fluxes of organic N equaling almost 40% of total atmospheric N inputs, atmospheric inputs of organic C on par with rural rates, atmospheric inputs of P similar to rates of P in parking lot runoff, and an enhancement of nutrient inputs to urban ecosystems by the urban tree canopy. My dissertation work highlights the need for a more thorough understanding of biogeochemical fluxes in cities, provides further impetus for the development of a more holistic, multifaceted understanding of urbanization, and suggests that urban areas should be studied as systems unto themselves, rather than strictly in comparison to rural areas

A Fabry-Perot interferometer for ground-based millimetric spectroscopy

Astrophysical observations at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths are one of the most useful tools to understand the history of the Universe. Although ground-based observations are affected by the presence of the Earth atmosphere, space telescopes remain limited in size offering only modest angular resolution not suitable to detect small spatial features of so compact objects. To date the ground-based solution seems to be the only feasible way to perform high angular resolution deep sky surveys. In this context a Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) has been developed in order to improve the capabilities of MAD (Multi Array of Detectors), a 4-channel photometer optimized for multi-frequency observation of Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect that will operate at Millimetre and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory (MITO), a 2.6-m in diameter telescope located in the Alps in Val d’Aosta (3480 m a.s.l.). The transmission response of an innovative system composed of two resonant metal grids in a FPI configuration is explored. A semi-empirical approach to perform an analysis of atmospheric transmission and emission at Dome C (Antartic Plateau) is suggested. The spectrometer CASPER2 (Concordia Atmospheric SPectroscopy of Emitted Ra- diation - MITO version) has been developed specifically to record atmospheric spectra assisting cosmological observations with the 2.6-m in diameter Cassegrain telescope at MITO

Continuous improvement project: filter manufacturing department at BAT in Heidelberg

Production industries are subject to the ebb and flow of demand and supply fluctuations, with an increase in a product’s demand driving up the supplier’s production. At BAT’s factory in Heidelberg, the filter manufacturing department is currently operating at nothing more than 75% efficiency, and is the bottleneck in BAT’s production process. If BAT plans to keep up with the increase in consumer demand, improvement is needed. To achieve a more acceptable production efficiency of about 85 to 95%, blockages hindering filter supply need to be minimised, changeover times reduced, and waste production needs to be kept to a minimal. The only way to achieve this objective would be to analyse the current layout, identify its flaws and areas of improvement, and then implement a new layout that would improve the department’s performance and complement future objectives. With the aid of simulation models, information is retrieved to determine the extent of improvements the proposed layout will be able to provide. The freed up floor space created by the proposed layout design will also be looked at to determine its best possible use. The information gathered from the simulations as well as the available floor space will provide a clear indication of the viability of the proposed layout.Thesis (B Eng. (Industrial and Systems Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2012

A Description of Laying Hen Husbandry and Management Practices in Canada

Canadian laying hen farms are transitioning from conventional cage housing to furnished cage and non-cage housing systems to improve laying hen welfare. However, little is known about the current housing and management systems in Canada. This study addresses this knowledge gap by describing different housing and management practices used on farms where laying hens were housed in furnished cages or non-cage housing systems. A questionnaire covering farm and housing conditions, litter management, nutrition and feeding, environmental control, flock characteristics, rearing and placement, health, egg production and performance were distributed through provincial egg boards to 122 producers across Canada. Data were collected from 65 laying hen flocks (52.5% response rate) in 26 furnished cage, 17 single-tier and 22 multi-tier systems. Flocks were on average 45.1 ± 14.59 weeks old (range: 19–69 weeks). Frequencies of different management practices were calculated according to housing system. Most flocks were reared in the same housing system as they were housed in during lay, with the exception of furnished cage layers which were reared in conventional cage systems. Results indicated that a large proportion of non-cage systems were either fully slatted or had manure as a litter substrate, which could have implications for consumer perspectives on these systems. Further research is needed to develop clear recommendations on proper litter management for farmers. In general, flock health was managed through daily inspections and vaccination schemes, whereas veterinarian involvement on-farm was less common. Vaccination, hygiene, and effective biosecurity should be maintained to ensure good health in laying hens in furnished cage and non-cage systems during the transition to these systems

Temperature-treated gluten proteins in Gluten-Friendly™ bread increase mucus production and gut-barrier function in human intestinal goblet cells

Abstract The effects of a control bread (CB) and a Gluten Friendly™ bread (GFB) on intestinal epithelium mucus production and barrier function in healthy human mucus-secreting goblet cells HT-29-16E were investigated. Mucus production in cells exposed to digested breads (GFB and CB) was preliminarily investigated using staining techniques, Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB), and MUC2 and MUC3 were also quantified by ELISA assay. The barrier function of the cell monolayer was evaluated by trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements. GFB increased the secretion of mucins, expressed as the level of PAS and AB staining in comparison with the control. MUC3 levels were not affected, whereas higher MUC2 concentrations (

Simulation for clinical preparedness for pediatric emergencies

The outcomes for children who sustain an in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest remains poor. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if pediatric simulation affects nurses\u27 knowledge, practices, and confidence when managing a pediatric code

Characteristics of State Law Enforcement Liaison Programs: Case Studies

DTNH2216D00016/001, OptionalTask 1This project conducted follow-up case studies after a recent survey examining law enforcement liaison (LEL) program characteristics across the Nation. The survey identified the most important attributes that aid LELs in reaching their work goals. This project included the development of an interview guide, site selection, identifying LELs, discussions with the LELs, data collection, and analysis. There were seven topic areas: sponsoring organization involvement, staff and resource allocation, roles and responsibilities, performance measures, outreach, communication, and the COVID pandemic. Maintaining State Highway Safety Office interactions is important for grant administration, technical support, public outreach, and overall grant support. LELs noted it was important to recognize and be aware of how the current state of traffic enforcement culture affects their program goals and activities