176 research outputs found
Infrared Spectroscopy of Large, Low‐Albedo Asteroids: Are Ceres and Themis Archetypes or Outliers?
Low-albedo, hydrated objects dominate the list of the largest asteroids. These objects have varied spectral shapes in the 3-m region, where diagnostic absorptions due to volatile species are found. Dawn's visit to Ceres has extended the view shaped by ground-based observing and shown that world to be a complex one, potentially still experiencing geological activity. We present 33 observations from 2.2 to 4.0m of eight large (D>200km) asteroids from the C spectral complex, with spectra inconsistent with the hydrated minerals we see in meteorites. We characterize their absorption band characteristics via polynomial and Gaussian fits to test their spectral similarity to Ceres, the asteroid 24 Themis (thought to be covered in ice frost), and the asteroid 51 Nemausa (spectrally similar to the CM meteorites). We confirm most of the observations are inconsistent with what is seen in meteorites and require additional absorbers. We find clusters in band centers that correspond to Ceres- and Themis-like spectra, but no hiatus in the distribution suitable for use to simply distinguish between them. We also find a range of band centers in the spectra that approaches what is seen on Comet 67P. Finally, variation is seen between observations for some objects, with the variation on 324 Bamberga consistent with hemispheric-level difference in composition. Given the ubiquity of objects with 3-m spectra unlike what we see in meteorites, and the similarity of those spectra to the published spectra of Ceres and Themis, these objects appear much more to be archetypes than outliers.NASA Planetary Astronomy program; SOFIA [SOF 04-0050]; SSO [NNX16AE91G]; L. A. Taylor Endowment; National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNH14CK55B]; [NNX14AJ39G]; [NNX09AB45G]; [NNG05GR60G]; [NAG5-10604]6 month embargo; first published: 17 April 2019This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Astronomical Observations of Volatiles on Asteroids
We have long known that water and hydroxyl are important components in
meteorites and asteroids. However, in the time since the publication of
Asteroids III, evolution of astronomical instrumentation, laboratory
capabilities, and theoretical models have led to great advances in our
understanding of H2O/OH on small bodies, and spacecraft observations of the
Moon and Vesta have important implications for our interpretations of the
asteroidal population. We begin this chapter with the importance of water/OH in
asteroids, after which we will discuss their spectral features throughout the
visible and near-infrared. We continue with an overview of the findings in
meteorites and asteroids, closing with a discussion of future opportunities,
the results from which we can anticipate finding in Asteroids V. Because this
topic is of broad importance to asteroids, we also point to relevant in-depth
discussions elsewhere in this volume.Comment: Chapter to appear in the (University of Arizona Press) Space Science
Series Book: Asteroids I
Near-infrared observations of active asteroid (3200) Phaethon reveal no evidence for hydration
Asteroid (3200) Phaethon is an active near-Earth asteroid and the parent body
of the Geminid Meteor Shower. Because of its small perihelion distance,
Phaethon's surface reaches temperatures sufficient to destabilize hydrated
materials. We conducted rotationally resolved spectroscopic observations of
this asteroid, mostly covering the northern hemisphere and the equatorial
region, beyond 2.5-micron to search for evidence of hydration on its surface.
Here we show that the observed part of Phaethon does not exhibit the 3-micron
hydrated mineral absorption (within 2-sigma). These observations suggest that
Phaethon's modern activity is not due to volatile sublimation or
devolatilization of phyllosilicates on its surface. It is possible that the
observed part of Phaethon was originally hydrated and has since lost volatiles
from its surface via dehydration, supporting its connection to the Pallas
family, or it was formed from anhydrous material
Near-infrared Spectral Characterization of Solar-type Stars in the Northern Hemisphere
Although solar-analog stars have been studied extensively over the past few
decades, most of these studies have focused on visible wavelengths, especially
those identifying solar-analog stars to be used as calibration tools for
observations. As a result, there is a dearth of well-characterized solar
analogs for observations in the near-infrared, a wavelength range important for
studying solar system objects. We present 184 stars selected based on
solar-like spectral type and V-J and V-K colors whose spectra we have observed
in the 0.8-4.2 micron range for calibrating our asteroid observations. Each
star has been classified into one of three ranks based on spectral resemblance
to vetted solar analogs. Of our set of 184 stars, we report 145 as reliable
solar-analog stars, 21 as solar analogs usable after spectral corrections with
low-order polynomial fitting, and 18 as unsuitable for use as calibration
standards owing to spectral shape, variability, or features at low to medium
resolution. We conclude that all but 5 of our candidates are reliable solar
analogs in the longer wavelength range from 2.5 to 4.2 microns. The average
colors of the stars classified as reliable or usable solar analogs are
V-J=1.148, V-H=1.418, and V-K=1.491, with the entire set being distributed
fairly uniformly in R.A. across the sky between -27 and +67 degrees in decl.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, 2 table
The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: Enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact
Obstetrics, the specialty overseeing infant and parent health before birth, could be expanded to address the interrelated areas of parents\u27 prenatal impact on children\u27s brain development and their own psychosocial needs during a time of immense change and neuroplasticity. Obstetrics is primed for the shift that is happening in pediatrics, which is moving from its traditional focus on physical health to a coordinated, whole-child, 2- or multigeneration approach. Pediatric care now includes developmental screening, parenting education, parent coaching, access to developmental specialists, brain-building caregiving skills, linkages to community resources, and tiered interventions with psychologists. Drawing on decades of developmental origins of health and disease research highlighting the prenatal beginnings of future health and new studies on the transition to parenthood describing adult development from pregnancy to early postpartum, we have proposed that, similar to pediatrics, the integration of education and intervention strategies into the prenatal care ecosystem should be tested for its potential to improve child cognitive and social-emotional development and parental mental health. Pediatric care programs can serve as models of change for the systematic development, testing and, incorporation of new content into prenatal care as universal, first-tier treatment and evidenced-based, triaged interventions according to the level of need. To promote optimal beginnings for the whole family, we have proposed an augmented prenatal care ecosystem that aligns with, and could build on, current major efforts to enhance perinatal care individualization through consideration of medical, social, and structural determinants of health
Preoperative behavioural intervention to reduce drinking before elective orthopaedic surgery: the PRE-OP BIRDS feasibility RCT.
Background
Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and extended hospital stay. Alcohol consumption therefore represents a modifiable risk factor for surgical outcomes. Brief behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption among increased risk and risky drinkers in other health-care settings and may offer a method of addressing preoperative alcohol consumption.
Objectives
To investigate the feasibility of introducing a screening process to assess adult preoperative drinking levels and to deliver a brief behavioural intervention adapted for the target population group. To conduct a two-arm (brief behavioural intervention plus standard preoperative care vs. standard preoperative care alone), multicentre, pilot randomised controlled trial to assess the feasibility of proceeding to a definitive trial. To conduct focus groups and a national web-based survey to establish current treatment as usual for alcohol screening and intervention in preoperative assessment.
Design
A single-centre, qualitative, feasibility study was followed by a multicentre, two-arm (brief behavioural intervention vs. treatment as usual), individually randomised controlled pilot trial with an embedded qualitative process evaluation. Focus groups and a quantitative survey were employed to characterise treatment as usual in preoperative assessment.
Setting
The feasibility study took place at a secondary care hospital in the north-east of England. The pilot trial was conducted at three large secondary care centres in the north-east of England.
Participants
Nine health-care professionals and 15 patients (mean age 70.5 years, 86.7% male) participated in the feasibility study. Eleven health-care professionals and 68 patients (mean age 66.2 years, 80.9% male) participated in the pilot randomised trial. An additional 19 health-care professionals were recruited to one of three focus groups, while 62 completed an electronic survey to characterise treatment as usual.
Interventions
The brief behavioural intervention comprised two sessions. The first session, delivered face to face in the preoperative assessment clinic, involved 5 minutes of structured brief advice followed by 15–20 minutes of behaviour change counselling, including goal-setting, problem-solving and identifying sources of social support. The second session, an optional booster, took place approximately 1 week before surgery and offered the opportunity to assess progress and boost self-efficacy.
Main outcome measures
Feasibility was assessed using rates of eligibility, recruitment and retention. The progression criteria for a definitive trial were recruitment of ≥ 40% of eligible patients and retention of ≥ 70% at 6-month follow-up. Acceptability was assessed using themes identified in qualitative data.
Results
The initial recruitment of eligible patients was low but improved with the optimisation of recruitment processes. The recruitment of eligible participants to the pilot trial (34%) fell short of the progression criteria but was mitigated by very high retention (96%) at the 6-month follow-up. Multimethod analyses identified the methods as acceptable to the patients and professionals involved and offers recommendations of ways to further improve recruitment.
Conclusions
The evidence supports the feasibility of a definitive trial to assess the effectiveness of brief behavioural intervention in reducing preoperative alcohol consumption and for secondary outcomes of surgical complications if recommendations for further improvements are adopted.
Trial registration
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN36257982.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 12. See the National Institute for Health Research Journals Library website for further project information
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