10,290 research outputs found
Partial melting in an upwelling mantle column
Decompression melting of hot upwelling rock in the mantle creates a region of partial melt comprising a porous solid matrix through which magma rises buoyantly. Magma transport and the compensating matrix deformation are commonly described by two-phase compaction models, but melt production is less often incorporated. Melting is driven by the necessity to maintain thermodynamic equilibrium between mineral grains in the partial melt; the position and amount of partial melting that occur are thus thermodynamically determined. We present a consistent model for the ascent of a one-dimensional column of rock and provide solutions that reveal where and how much partial melting occurs, the positions of the boundaries of the partial melt being determined by conserving energy across them. Thermodynamic equilibrium of the boundary between partial melt and the solid lithosphere requires a boundary condition on the effective pressure (solid pressure minus melt pressure), which suggests that large effective stresses, and hence fracture, are likely to occur near the base of the lithosphere. Matrix compaction, melt separation and temperature in the partially molten region are all dependent on the effective pressure, a fact that can lead to interesting oscillatory boundary-layer structures. © 2008 The Royal Society
Scabies outbreaks in residential care homes: factors associated with late recognition, burden and impact. A mixed methods study in England
Scabies is an important public health problem in residential care homes. Delayed diagnosis contributes to outbreaks, which may be prolonged and difficult to control. We investigated factors influencing outbreak recognition, diagnosis and treatment, and staff experiences of outbreak control, identifying areas for intervention. We carried out a semi-structured survey of managers, affected residents and staff of seven care homes reporting suspected scabies outbreaks in southern England over a 6-month period. Attack rates ranged from 2% to 50%, and most cases had dementia (37/39, 95%). Cases were diagnosed clinically by GPs (59%) or home staff (41%), none by dermatologists. Most outbreaks were attributable to avoidably late diagnosis of the index case. Participants reported considerable challenges in managing scabies outbreaks, including late diagnosis and recognition of outbreaks; logistically difficult mass treatment; distressing treatment processes and high costs. This study demonstrates the need for improved support for care homes in detecting and managing these outbreak
Geos 1 observations at Malvern, England
Satellite observation techniques and data processing methods at optical tracking station in Malvern, Englan
Detection of Extremely Broad Water Emission from the molecular cloud interacting Supernova Remnant G349.7+0.2
We performed Herschel HIFI, PACS and SPIRE observations towards the molecular
cloud interacting supernova remnant G349.7+0.2. An extremely broad emission
line was detected at 557 GHz from the ground state transition 1_{10}-1_{01} of
ortho-water. This water line can be separated into three velocity components
with widths of 144, 27 and 4 km/s. The 144 km/s component is the broadest water
line detected to date in the literature. This extremely broad line width shows
importance of probing shock dynamics. PACS observations revealed 3 additional
ortho-water lines, as well as numerous high-J carbon monoxide (CO) lines. No
para-water lines were detected. The extremely broad water line is indicative of
a high velocity shock, which is supported by the observed CO rotational diagram
that was reproduced with a J-shock model with a density of 10^4 cm^{-3} and a
shock velocity of 80 km/s. Two far-infrared fine-structure lines, [O~I] at 145
micron and [C~II] line at 157 micron, are also consistent with the high
velocity J-shock model. The extremely broad water line could be simply from
short-lived molecules that have not been destroyed in high velocity J-shocks;
however, it may be from more complicated geometry such as high-velocity water
bullets or a shell expanding in high velocity. We estimate the CO and H2O
densities, column densities, and temperatures by comparison with RADEX and
detailed shock models. Detection of Extremely Broad Water Emission from the
molecular cloud interacting Supernova Remnant G349.7+0.
Space-times admitting a three-dimensional conformal group
Perfect fluid space-times admitting a three-dimensional Lie group of
conformal motions containing a two-dimensional Abelian Lie subgroup of
isometries are studied. Demanding that the conformal Killing vector be proper
(i.e., not homothetic nor Killing), all such space-times are classified
according to the structure of their corresponding three-dimensional conformal
Lie group and the nature of their corresponding orbits (that are assumed to be
non-null). Each metric is then explicitly displayed in coordinates adapted to
the symmetry vectors. Attention is then restricted to the diagonal case, and
exact perfect fluid solutions are obtained in both the cases in which the fluid
four-velocity is tangential or orthogonal to the conformal orbits, as well as
in the more general "tilting" case.Comment: Latex 34 page
Extended OH(1720 MHz) Maser Emission from Supernova Remnants
Compact OH(1720 MHz) masers have proven to be excellent signposts for the
interaction of supernova remnants with adjacent molecular clouds. Less
appreciated has been the weak, extended OH(1720 MHz) emission which accompanies
strong compact maser sources. Recent single-dish and interferometric
observations reveal the majority of maser-emitting supernova remnants have
accompanying regions of extended maser emission. Enhanced OH abundance created
by the passing shock is observed both as maser emission and absorption against
the strong background of the remnant. Modeling the observed OH profiles gives
an estimate of the physical conditions in which weak, extended maser emission
arises. I will discuss how we can realize the utility of this extended maser
emission, particularly the potential to measure the strength of the post-shock
magnetic field via Zeeman splitting over these large-scales.Comment: 5 Pages, 2 Figures, To appear in IAU 242, Astrophysical Masers and
Their Environments, eds. J. Chapman & W. Baa
Manipulation of Light with Magneto-optic Stripe Domain Films
Magnetic diffraction grating materials, being developed to provide a simple means of deflecting light in a two dimensional, solid state fashion are discussed. The most promising material, for several applications, appears to be bismuth substituted iron garnet films in epitaxial form. Calculations indicate that deflection efficiency greater than 60% is possible in the near infrared region of the spectrum. Within the field of view of the deflector, measurements predict that 105 resolvable spots can be expected. Applications include: (1) general purpose deflection of free laser light, (2) image processing of extended sources such as transparencies, (3) programmable lensing, and (4) fiber optic matrix switching
Cosmic No Hair for Collapsing Universes
It is shown that all contracting, spatially homogeneous, orthogonal Bianchi
cosmologies that are sourced by an ultra-stiff fluid with an arbitrary and, in
general, varying equation of state asymptote to the spatially flat and
isotropic universe in the neighbourhood of the big crunch singularity. This
result is employed to investigate the asymptotic dynamics of a collapsing
Bianchi type IX universe sourced by a scalar field rolling down a steep,
negative exponential potential. A toroidally compactified version of M*-theory
that leads to such a potential is discussed and it is shown that the isotropic
attractor solution for a collapsing Bianchi type IX universe is supersymmetric
when interpreted in an eleven-dimensional context.Comment: Extended discussion to include Kantowski-Sachs universe. In press,
Classical and Quantum Gravit
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