Porphyrins in the interstellar medium (in grains)

Spectral sensitivity of the chromophores to their immediate chemical environment establishes some of the chemical constituents of the grains in which they reside. These are: (1) Paraffins, such as, octane, nonane, decane, and others...(needed for Shpolskii matrices and producing quasilines); and (2) Pyridine. The presence of pyridine is required not only to produce the spectral DIB matching, but also to produce the 36 cm(sup -1) crystal field splitting of the S(sub 1) electronic state. The presence of pyridine in the grains can be confirmed spectroscopically. Pyridine produces a transmission window at 2175 A, matching exactly the well known UV hump. On grain reflection, some of the incoming UV radiation is absorbed into the grain's outer layers. Spikes in the lab and in the astronomical data are due to vibronic transitions in pyridine. The lab spectroscopy reported here clearly establishes the presence of MgTBP, H2TPB, and pyridine in the interstellar grains. The high fluorescence efficiency of MgTBP (being optically pumped in the visible) apparently accounts for all the observed UIR emissions

It Could Not Be Seen Because It Could Not Be Believed on June 30, 2013

Nineteen Prescott Fire Department, Granite Mountain Hot Shot (GMHS) wildland firefighters (WF) perished in Arizona in June 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, an inexplicable wildland fire disaster. In complex wildland fires, sudden, dynamic changes in human factors and fire conditions can occur, thus mistakes can be unfortunately fatal. Individual and organizational faults regarding the predictable, puzzling, human failures that will result in future WF deaths are addressed. The GMHS were individually, then collectively fixated with abandoning their Safety Zone to reengage, committing themselves at the worst possible time, to relocate to another Safety Zone - a form of collective tunnel vision. Our goal is to provoke meaningful discussion toward improved wildland firefighter safety with practical solutions derived from a long-established wildland firefighter expertise/performance in a fatality-prone profession. Wildfire fatalities are unavoidable, hence these proposals, applied to ongoing training, can significantly contribute to other well-thought-out and validated measures to reduce them

In Situ, Nonlinear Soil Response Applying an Active Source

Soil sites have a profound effect on ground motion during earthquakes due to their low wave speeds, layered structure, and nonlinear constitutive relationship. Measurements of nonlinear soil response under natural conditions are critical to understanding soil behavior during earthquakes. Currently, quantitative measurements of nonlinear soil response are derived from laboratory experiments on small samples. In this paper, we extend laboratory methods for measuring nonlinear soil response to field-scale. We observe the in situ, nonlinear response of a natural soil formation using measurements obtained immediately adjacent to a large vibrator truck. The source generates a steady-state wavefield in the soil formation at a range of discrete source frequencies and amplitudes. Accelerometers within the source provide an estimate of the source output to the soil, and an array of 4 accelerometers adjacent to the source record the wavefield at 1.5 m spacing. We develop a homodyne analysis to extract the steady-state amplitude at each discrete source frequency and amplitude without contamination from source harmonics. Steadystate amplitude ratios are computed between the receivers and the source, and between adjacent receiver pairs within the array. Both sets of amplitude ratios show dramatic decreases in peak frequency as the source amplitude is increased. These peak frequency shifts are qualitatively similar to the nonlinear soil response observed for laboratory samples under resonance conditions. Amplitude ratios between adjacent receiver pairs suggest the nonlinear soil response persists across the receiver array and is not limited to the source-soil contact region. The magnitudes of the observed peak shifts appear to depend on their frequency, a proxy for depth, which is consistent with the confining pressure dependence of soil nonlinearity observed in laboratory experiments. Future work will include measurements of steady-state phase velocities across the array to better understand the nature of nonlinear wave propagation within natural soil formations.United States. Dept. of Energy (through Los Alamos National Laboratory)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laborator

The context of using TESSA OERs in Egerton University’s teacher education programmes

The Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) consortium has developed Open Educational Resources (OERs) to support school-based teacher education and training. Egerton University has been involved in the creation and development of TESSA materials since 2005. TESSA materials are used particularly in the B.Ed. (Primary) programme for in-service teachers and are integrated into the relevant pedagogy courses. In Kenya, there have been changes in the minimum requirements for joining primary teacher education programmes. This has led to an increased interest among teachers to upgrade their qualifications, improve their competencies and the quality of their practice. There are incentives for them to do so, including paid study leave, incremental credits on salary and promotion upon completion of their studies. For in-service teachers taking a qualification, part-time and distance learning is a necessity: because they need to fit their study around their own teaching. The expectation is that periods of residential study during holiday times, materials supplied as part of their programme, and school-based assessment, provide the basis for the development of their practice in their schools. This paper explores some of the challenges of these changing circumstances. We examine, through analysis of interviews which have been carried out with teachers and teacher educators, the opportunities and the constraints offered by a qualification designed to develop teaching practice. We explore the ways in which the use of TESSA OERs help support the development of teaching practice, and we map the challenges faced by teachers and by teacher educators in changing practice and in fitting new practices into existing school cultures

Blue Crab Larval Dispersion and Retention in the Mississippi Bight: Testing the Hypothesis

An hypothesis relating physical forcing to dispersion and retention of blue crab larvae was tested in the area of the Mississippi Bight. Seasonal circulation patterns derived from a 3-dimensional, primitive equation, sigma-coordinate model of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) indicate favorable conditions for offshore dispersal of larvae and their return to nearshore waters as megalopae occur between April and October. Large basin-scale events, such as Loop Current intrusions into the GOM with spin-off eddy generation and anomalies in average wind stress may interrupt this circulation pattern and change the settlement success rate. Meteorological and hydrological factors thought to influence settlement were compared to daily records of megalopal abundance in Mississippi Sound for the years 1991 through 1999. Wind stress was strongly correlated with settlement success. Eastward wind stress during the months of July and August, when the larvae are at sea, and westward wind stress during recruitment in September and October were important in retaining larvae in the general area and subsequently returning them near shore as megalopae, respectively. Northward intrusion of the Loop Current and warm core ring detachment during late summer altered circulation patterns and decreased settlement success

Nonlinear Soil Response in the Near-Field of a Vibrator Truck: Application to Land Seismic Surveys

The nonlinear behavior of soils can significantly modify the wavelet radiated from vibrator trucks. In this paper, we describe a field experiment designed to measure the nonlinear response of a natural soil formation in the near-field of a vibrator truck. A 267-kN (30-ton) vibrator truck performed a step-sweep through a set of 201 discrete frequencies from 50-Hz to 10-Hz, which was repeated at 11 increasing source amplitudes. Steady-state amplitude spectra for the source output measured on the vibrator truck are significantly different than amplitude spectra for receivers located immediately adjacent to the vibrator truck. Spectral ratios between the source and adjacent receivers show a systematic decrease in peak frequency as the source amplitude is increased. Near-field measurements from vibrator trucks provide a more accurate measurement of the source wavelet that includes soil nonlinearity, and may ultimately lead to a method for optimizing the transmission of energy through an arbitrary soil formation.University of California, Los Angeles. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary PhysicsMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laborator

Cancer in Youth Living With HIV (YLWHIV): A narrative review of the access to oncological services among YLWHIV and the role of economic strengthening in child health

Youth Living with HIV/AIDS (YLWHIV) have a higher risk of developing immunodeficiency related illnesses including certain cancers than their general population counterparts of the same age. This narrative review of current available literature describes factors associated with pediatric access to oncological services, and the role economic strengthening could play in improving health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Findings suggest that both HIV-infected and -uninfected children living in low and middle-income countries struggle with access and adherence to cancer treatment and care. Cost of treatment is a major barrier to access and adherence. Asset-building savings programs may increase financial security and subsequently result in better health outcomes although they have not been utilized to improve access to cancer treatment

Saving in Low-Income Households: Evidence From Interviews With Participants in the American Dream Demonstration

Saving in Low-Income Households: Evidence From Interviews With Participants in the American Dream Demonstratio

Test Anxiety and Relaxation Training in Third-Grade Students

As testing becomes an achievement marker for elementary school children, test anxiety would naturally follow for these children. This study looks at test anxiety in third grade students, as well as relaxation training as a treatment modality to deal with that anxiety. One hundred and four third grade students participated in this study. Those students that received relaxation training experienced less test anxiety after the treatment. Students in the control group showed no changes in test anxiety. The use of relaxation training among third grade students may be a beneficial method for teachers to reduce anxiety in their students