SGAS 143845.1+145407: A Big, Cool Starburst at Redshift 0.816

We present the discovery and a detailed multi-wavelength study of a strongly-lensed luminous infrared galaxy at z=0.816. Unlike most known lensed galaxies discovered at optical or near-infrared wavelengths this lensed source is red, r-Ks = 3.9 [AB], which the data presented here demonstrate is due to ongoing dusty star formation. The overall lensing magnification (a factor of 17) facilitates observations from the blue optical through to 500micron, fully capturing both the stellar photospheric emission as well as the re-processed thermal dust emission. We also present optical and near-IR spectroscopy. These extensive data show that this lensed galaxy is in many ways typical of IR-detected sources at z~1, with both a total luminosity and size in accordance with other (albeit much less detailed) measurements in samples of galaxies observed in deep fields with the Spitzer telescope. Its far-infrared spectral energy distribution is well-fit by local templates that are an order of magnitude less luminous than the lensed galaxy; local templates of comparable luminosity are too hot to fit. Its size (D~7kpc) is much larger than local luminous infrared galaxies, but in line with sizes observed for such galaxies at z~1. The star formation appears uniform across this spatial scale. In this source, the luminosity of which is typical of sources that dominate the cosmic infrared background, we find that star formation is spatially extended and well organised, quite unlike the compact merger-driven starbursts which are typical for sources of this luminosity at z~0.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection among undocumented immigrants in Swiss healthcare centres; a descriptive exploratory study

BACKGROUND: Migration is one of the major causes of tuberculosis in developed countries. Undocumented patients are usually not screened at the border and are not covered by a health insurance increasing their risk of developing the disease unnoticed. Urban health centres could help identify this population at risk. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and adherence to preventive treatment in a population of undocumented immigrant patients. METHODS: All consecutive undocumented patients that visited two urban healthcare centres for vulnerable populations in Lausanne, Switzerland for the first time were offered tuberculosis screening with an interferon-gamma assay. Preventive treatment was offered if indicated. Adherence to treatment was evaluated monthly over a nine month period. RESULTS: Of the 161 participants, 131 (81.4%) agreed to screening and 125 had complete examinations. Twenty-four of the 125 patients (19.2%; CI95% 12.7;27.2) had positive interferon-gamma assay results, two of which had active tuberculosis. Only five patients with LTBI completed full preventive treatments. Five others initiated the treatment but did not follow through. CONCLUSION: Screening for tuberculosis infection in this hard-to-reach population is feasible in dedicated urban clinics, and the prevalence of LTBI is high in this vulnerable population. However, the low adherence to treatment is an important public health concern, and new strategies are needed to address this problem

Overcoming barriers to campus greening: a survey among higher educational institutions in London, UK

This paper explores the greening of higher educational institutions. It is based on a survey carried out on a sample of higher educational institutions within London, UK. A qualitative research approach, using semi-structured interviews, is applied to assess: how far the relevant institutions have reached with respect to greening within the areas of energy and solid waste management; what the interviewees consider to be the most important barriers to further greening their campuses; and how such barriers can be reduced, or possibly overcome. The study maintains that although the institutions are not at ground zero with respect to greening, their overall environmental quality is relatively poor, particularly concerning recycling. It is argued that the barrier suggested to be of greatest significance by the interviewees, namely budgetary constrains, is at least partly due to a lack of knowledge concerning how greening initiatives can save costs as well as an institutional reluctance to change. It is concluded therefore that one of the most important measures that needs to be undertaken to overcome barriers to greening is to raise the environmental awareness within campus communities

Comparison of Q3s ATD Biomechanical Responses to Pediatric Volunteers

<div><p><b>Objective:</b> The biofidelity of pediatric anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) continues to be evaluated with scaled-down adult data, a methodology that requires inaccurate assumptions about the likeness of biomechanical properties of children and adults. Recently, evaluation of pediatric ATDs by comparison of pediatric volunteer (PV) data has emerged as a valuable and practical alternative to the use of scaled adult data. This study utilized existing PV data to evaluate a 3-year-old side impact ATD, the Q3s. Though ATDs have been compared to volunteer responses in frontal impacts, this study is the first to extend ATD-PV comparison methods to the Q3s ATD and among the first to extend these methods to side impacts.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> Previously conducted experiments were replicated in order to make a direct comparison between the Q3s and PVs. PV data were used from 4- to 7-year-olds (shoulder tests, <i>n</i> = 14) and 6- to 8-year-olds (sled tests, <i>n</i> = 7). Force–deflection data were captured during quasistatic shoulder tests through manual displacement of the shoulder joint. Resulting shoulder stiffness was compared between the Q3s and PVs. Low-speed far-side sled tests were conducted with the Q3s at lateral (90°) and oblique (60°) impacts. Primary outcomes of interest included (1) lateral displacement of the torso, (2) torso rollout angle, and (3) kinematic trajectories of the head and neck.</p><p><b>Results:</b> The Q3s exhibited shoulder stiffness values at least 32 N/mm greater than the PVs for all conditions (PV muscle tensed and relaxed, deflection calculated for full- and half-thoracic). In lateral sled tests, the Q3s demonstrated increased coronal torso rollout (Q3s: 49.2°; PVs: 35.7° ± 12.4°) and lateral (Δ<i>Y</i>) movement of the top of the head (Q3s: −389 mm; PVs: −320 ± 23 mm) compared to PVs. In oblique trials, the Q3s achieved significantly decreased lateral torso displacement (Q3s: 153.3 mm; PVs: 193.6 ± 25.6 mm) and top of the head forward (Δ<i>X</i>) motion (Q3s: 68 mm; PVs: 133 ± 20 mm) compared to PVs. In all tests, greater downward (Δ<i>Z</i>) excursions of C4 and T1 were observed in the Q3s relative to PVs.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> Increased Q3s shoulder stiffness could affect head–neck kinematics as well as thorax responses because unrealistic force can be transmitted to the spine from the shoulder. Q3s and PV trajectories were of similar shape, although Q3s head kinematics displayed rigid body motion followed by independent lateral bending of the head, suggesting cervical and thoracic spine rigidity compared to PVs.</p></div

Top tether effectiveness during side impacts

<p><b>Objective</b>: Few studies have looked at the effectiveness of the top tether during side impacts. In these studies, limited anthropomorphic test device (ATD) data were collected and/or few side impact scenarios were observed. The goal of this study was to further understand the effects of the top tether on ATD responses and child restraint system (CRS) kinematics during various side impact conditions.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: A series of high-speed near-side and far-side sled tests were performed using the FMVSS213 side impact sled buck and Q3s ATD. Tests were performed at both 10° and 30° impacts with respect to the pure lateral direction. Two child restraints, CRS A and CRS B, were attached to the bench using flexible lower anchors. Each test scenario was performed with the presence and absence of a top tether. Instrumentation recorded Q3s responses and CRS kinematics, and the identical test scenarios with and without a top tether attachment were compared.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: For the far-side lateral (10°) and oblique (30°) impacts, top tether attachment increased resultant head accelerations by 8–38% and head injury criterion (HIC₁₅) values by 20–140%. However, the top tether was effective in reducing lateral head excursion by 5–25%. For near-side impacts, the top tether resulted in less than 10% increases in both resultant head acceleration and HIC₁₅ in the lateral impact direction. For near-side oblique impacts, the top tether increased HIC₁₅ by 17.3% for CRS A and decreased it by 19.5% for CRS B. However, the injury values determined from both impact conditions were below current injury assessment reference values (IARVs). Additionally, the top tether proved beneficial in preventing forward and lateral CRS rotations.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b>: The results show that the effects of the top tether on Q3s responses were dependent on impact type, impact angle, and CRS. Tether attachments that increased head accelerations and HIC₁₅ values were generally counterbalanced by a reduction in head excursion and CRS rotation compared to nontethered scenarios.</p

Kestrel: Design of an 8-bit SIMD parallel processor

Kestrel is a high-performance programmable parallel co-processor. Its design is the result of examination and reexaminataon of algorathmic, architectural, packaging, and szlacon design assues, and the anterrelations between them. The final system features a lznear array of 8-bat processing elements, each wath local memory, an arathmetac logic mat (ALU), a multaplaer, and other functional units. Sixty-four Kestrel processang elements fit an a 1.4 million transistor, 60mm2, 0.5pm CMOS chap with just 84 pins. The planned single-board, 8-chap system will, for some applications, provide supercomputer performance at a fraction of the cost. This paper surveys four of our applacataons (sequence analysts, neural networks, image compressaon, arid floating-point arithmetzc), and discusses the philosophy behind many of the design deczsions. We present the processing element and system architectures, emphasizing the AL U and comparator’s compact znstruction encoding and design, the architecture’s facility with nested condztionals, and the multzplier’s jexzbilaty in performing multiprecision operations. Finally, we discuss the implementation and performance of the Kestrel test chips

Aluminum and Magnesium Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

The book looks into the recent advances in the ex-situ production routes and properties of aluminum and magnesium based metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs), produced either by liquid or semi-solid state methods. It comprehensively summarizes work done in the last 10 years including the mechanical properties of different matrix/nanoreinforcement systems. The book also addresses future research direction, steps taken and missing developments to achieve the full industrial exploitation of such composites. The content of the book appeals to researchers and industrial practitioners in the area of materials development for metal matrix nanocomposites and its applications

The Genome of Thermosipho africanus TCF52B: Lateral Genetic Connections to the Firmicutes and Archaea▿ †

Lateral gene transfers (LGT) (also called horizontal gene transfers) have been a major force shaping the Thermosipho africanus TCF52B genome, whose sequence we describe here. Firmicutes emerge as the principal LGT partner. Twenty-six percent of phylogenetic trees suggest LGT with this group, while 13% of the open reading frames indicate LGT with Archaea