NuSTAR discovery of a cyclotron line in KS 1947+300

We present a spectral analysis of three simultaneous Nuclear Spectroscopy Telescope Array and Swift/XRT observations of the transient Be-neutron star binary KS 1947+300 taken during its outburst in 2013/2014. These broadband observations were supported by Swift/XRT monitoring snapshots every three days, which we use to study the evolution of the spectrum over the outburst. We find strong changes of the power-law photon index, which shows a weak trend of softening with increasing X-ray flux. The neutron star shows very strong pulsations with a period of P ≈ 18.8 s. The 0.8–79 keV broadband spectrum can be described by a power law with an exponential cutoff and a blackbody component at low energies. During the second observation we detect a cyclotron resonant scattering feature at 12.5 keV, which is absent in the phase-averaged spectra of observations 1 and 3. Pulse phase-resolved spectroscopy reveals that the strength of the feature changes strongly with pulse phase and is most prominent during the broad minimum of the pulse profile. At the same phases the line also becomes visible in the first and third observation at the same energy. This discovery implies that KS 1947+300 has a magnetic field strength of B ≈ 1.1 × 10^(12) (1 + z) G, which is at the lower end of known cyclotron line sources

TODDLER Project (2010-2013) Towards Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road. European Union, Lifelong Learning Programme, Comenius.

TODDLER Project, Lifelong Learning Programme created opportunities for knowledge transfer and exchange through focusing on the development of provisions for toddlers and investigations of different approaches promoting learning in a child-centred way. Module materials explored strategies and good practice of provision of high-quality education and care for disadvantaged toddlers. A framework created a report on ‘Toddler in Europe the Context’ on ECEC systems and approaches used to support diverse and disadvantaged toddlers. Then explored topic areas of ‘Language Support in Multicultural Settings’, Supporting Wellbeing’ and ‘Enhancing Parental Involvement’ with ‘Educating the Reflective Practitioner’ underpinning all of this. The module materials were successfully trialled and completed being made available on the TODDLER website as a Course Reader, Course Lecture Materials, and resources. KU led the Report and Case Studies: Promoting the Wellbeing of Toddler’s within the European Union creating an innovative pedagogical approach ‘Reflective Story Boards’ using a description of the context of the strategy followed by photos with explanations and supported with further description /explanation making visible to all stakeholders how educators promote wellbeing for toddlers. The final report highlighted the Reflective Story Boards contribution reaching the goal of showing the educational potential of high quality ECEC (Final Report, 2011)

An Adverse Outcome Pathway for Sensitization of the Respiratory Tract by Low-Molecular-Weight Chemicals: Building Evidence to Support the Utility of In Vitro and In Silico Methods in a Regulatory Context

Sensitization of the respiratory tract is an important occupational health challenge, and understanding the mechanistic basis of this effect is necessary to support the development of toxicological tools to detect chemicals that may cause it. Here we use the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework to organize information that may better inform our understanding of sensitization of the respiratory tract, building on a previously published skin sensitization AOP, relying on literature evidence linked to low-molecular-weight organic chemicals and excluding other known respiratory sensitizers acting via different molecular initiating events. The established key events (KEs) are as follows: (1) covalent binding of chemicals to proteins, (2) activation of cellular danger signals (inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and cytoprotective gene pathways), (3) dendritic cell activation and migration, (4) activation, proliferation, and polarization of T cells, and (5) sensitization of the respiratory tract. These events mirror the skin sensitization AOP but with specific differences. For example, there is some evidence that respiratory sensitizers bind preferentially to lysine moieties, whereas skin sensitizers bind to both cysteine and lysine. Furthermore, exposure to respiratory sensitizers seems to result in cell behavior for KEs 2 and 3, as well as the effector T cell response, in general skewing toward cytokine secretions predominantly associated with T helper 2 (Th2) response. Knowledge gaps include the lack of understanding of which KE(s) drive the Th2 polarization. The construction of this AOP may provide insight into predictive tests that would in combination support the discrimination of respiratory-sensitizing from non- and skin-sensitizing chemicals, a clear regulatory need