A Radio Perspective on Star-Formation in Distant Galaxies

Determination of the epoch dependent star-formation rate of field galaxies is one of the principal goals of modern observational cosmology. Deep radio surveys, sensitive to starbursts out to $z \sim$ 1-2, may hold the key to understanding the evolution of the starburst phenonemon unhindered by the effects of dust. Using deep, high resolution radio observations of the Hubble Deep Field, we show that the $\mu$Jy radio emission from field galaxies at $z\sim 0.4-1$ is primarily starburst in origin. In addition, we have discovered a population of optically faint, possibly obscured systems that are candidate high-$z$ protogalaxies. At least one of these radio sources is identified with a sub-mm detection.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs., paper presented at Maryland October Astrophysics Conference, 'Before the Dark Ages: When the Galaxies were Young

Review of 'Britishness Abroad' ed. Kate Darian-Smith, Patricia Grimshaw and Stuart Macintyre..

Review of 'Britishness Abroad: Transnational Movements and Imperial Culture' ed. Kate Darian-Smith, Patricia Grimshaw and Stuart Macintyre

An investigation of the role of background music in IVWs for learning

Empirical evidence is needed to corroborate the intuitions of gamers and game developers in understanding the benefits of Immersive Virtual Worlds (IVWs) as a learning environment and the role that music plays within these environments. We report an investigation to determine if background music of the genre typically found in computer‐based role‐playing games has an effect on learning in a computer‐animated history lesson about the Macquarie Lighthouse within an IVW. In Experiment 1, music stimuli were created from four different computer game soundtracks. Seventy‐two undergraduate students watched the presentation and completed a survey including biographical details, questions on the historical material presented and questions relating to their perceived level of immersion. While the tempo and pitch of the music was unrelated to learning, music conditions resulted in a higher number of accurately remembered facts than the no music condition. One soundtrack showed a statistically significant improvement in memorisation of facts over other music conditions. Also an interaction between the levels of perceived immersion and ability to accurately remember facts was observed. Experiment 2, involving 48 undergraduate students, further investigated the effect of music, sense of immersion and how different display systems affect memory for facts

Distances of Stars by mean of the Phase-lag Method

Variable OH/IR stars are Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars with an optically thick circumstellar envelope that emit strong OH 1612 MHz emission. They are commonly observed throughout the Galaxy but also in the LMC and SMC. Hence, the precise inference of the distances of these stars will ultimately result in better constraints on their mass range in different metallicity environments. Through a multi-year long-term monitoring program at the Nancay Radio telescope (NRT) and a complementary high-sensitivity mapping campaign at the eMERLIN and JVLA to measure precisely the angular diameter of the envelopes, we have been re-exploring distance determination through the phase-lag method for a sample of stars, in order to refine the poorly-constrained distances of some and infer the currently unknown distances of others. We present here an update of this project.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables, to appear in the Proceedings of the IAU Symposium No. 336: Astrophysical Masers: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Univers

What the council of economic advisors need to know about sustainable development

The decision by Alex Salmond to appoint a Council of Economic Advisors to move economic decision making away from purely political rationale is particularly welcome given the new administration’s commitment to sustainable economic growth as the overarching priority. From the first Minister’s statement to parliament4 is clear that as an economist he recognises that sustainable economic growth is not (just) economic growth that continues but economic growth that is environmentally and socially sustainable. In the Scottish Environment Protection Agency we have wrestled with just what sustainable economic growth might mean and here we offer some of our own thoughts to help the new council of economic advisors in their work

A study of the eta and eta' mesons with improved staggered fermions

We report on a high statistics lattice QCD calculation of the mass of the eta and eta' mesons using ASQTAD improved staggered fermions. The calculation used two ensembles with different lattice spacings and pion masses. We also report results for eta-eta' mixing. The results are in satisfactory agreement with other lattice calculations using other fermion formulations and with experiment, given the the unphysical quark masses used. We see no evidence of abnormal behaviour at the lattice spacings studied.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures; replacing with published version (1 figure and some discussion added; typos corrected

Atypical presentation of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 8 in a sibling pair and review of the eye findings and neurological features.

Purpose:To report atypical presentation of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses type 8 (CLN8) to the eye clinic and review clinical features of CLN8. Observations:Detailed eye exam by slit lamp exam, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, visual fields and electroretinogram (ERG). Molecular genetic testing using Next Generation Sequencing panel (NGS) and array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH).The siblings in this study presented to the eye clinic with retinitis pigmentosa and cystoid macular edema, and a history of seizures but no severe neurocognitive deficits or regression. Genetic testing identified a c.200C > T (p.A67V) variant in the CLN8 gene and a deletion encompassing the entire gene. Electron microscopy of lymphocytes revealed fingerprint inclusions in both siblings. Conclusions:and Importance: Pathogenic variants in CLN8 account for the retinitis pigmentosa and seizures in our patients however, currently, they do not have regression or neurocognitive decline. The presentation of NCL can be very diverse and it is important for ophthalmologists to consider this in the differential diagnosis of retinal disorders with seizures or other neurological features. Molecular genetic testing of multiple genes causing isolated and syndromic eye disorders using NGS panels and aCGH along with additional complementary testing may often be required to arrive at a definitive diagnosis