Tip-of-the-Red-Giant-Branch Detection: Estimating the distance to resolved galaxies in SHIELD

The Survey of HI in Extremely Low-mass Dwarfs (SHIELD) is an ongoing study of twelve galaxies with HI masses between 106 and 107 Solar masses, detected by the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey. One of the important characteristics of a galaxy is its distance, since knowing that value allows us to calibrate many other factors and learn more about the galaxy. This research was focused on creating a program to systematically solve for the distance to the galaxies in SHIELD. To perform this calculation, Tip-of-the-Red-Giant-Branch (TRGB) detection was chosen, which is a popular method for galaxies with low numbers of stars. Presented here are the results of a new program for the SHIELD galaxies, along with estimated uncertainties and comparisons to distance estimates made by methods from other publications and associated SHIELD members

A Theoretical Investigation of the Geometries, Vibrational Frequencies, and Binding Energies of Several Mixed Alkali Halide Dimers

Results are presented from ab initio calculations on several mixed alkali halide dimers made up of Li, Na, F, and Cl. All of the dimers are investigated at the restricted Hartree–Fock level to provide ab initio estimates of geometries, vibrational frequencies, and binding energies. The dimer LiNaF2 is then treated using a variety of basis sets at the Hartree–Fock level, as well as at correlated levels (second‐order Møller–Plesset and coupled‐cluster singles and doubles) to examine the sensitivity of the calculations to use of higher levels of theory. The results are then compared to the experimental data available for the LiNaF2 molecule, previous theoretical results for the monomers, and recent semiempirical calculations on the mixed dimers

New insights into the reliability of automatic dynamic methods for oral bioaccessibility testing: a case study for BGS102 soil

Dynamic flow-through extraction is attracting a great deal of attention for real-time monitoring of the bioaccessible fraction of metal species in environmental solid substrates compared to its batchwise manual counterparts. There is however a lack of studies on the harmonization and validation of in vitro dynamic methods for physiologically based extraction tests against in vivo bioavailability methods. This work is aimed at evaluating the reliability of dynamic flow-through extraction methods for estimation of oral bioaccessible fractions of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, and As under worst-case extraction conditions in the gastric compartment based on the BGS102 guidance soil using the in vivo validated Unified BARGE (UBM) test, commonly performed under batchwise mode. Good overall agreement between batch and dynamic UBM results was obtained for the tested elements, except for Pb, as a consequence of the slow leaching kinetics identified with the dynamic method and the contribution of readsorption phenomena in the course of the gastric digestion. Metal-soil phase associations and their relationship with gastric bioaccessible fractions were elucidated using the so-called Chemometric Identification of Substrates and Element Distributions method based on sequential extraction with a variety of chemicals of increasing acidity as applied to both static and dynamic bioaccessibility data

The Neutral Gas Dynamics of the Nearby Magellanic Irregular Galaxy UGCA 105

We present new low-resolution HI spectral line imaging, obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), of the star-forming Magellanic irregular galaxy UGCA 105. This nearby (D = 3.39+/-0.25 Mpc), low mass [M_HI=(4.3+/-0.5)x10^8 Solar masses] system harbors a large neutral gas disk (HI radius ~7.2 kpc at the N_HI=10^20 cm^-2 level) that is roughly twice as large as the stellar disk at the B-band R_25 isophote. We explore the neutral gas dynamics of this system, fitting tilted ring models in order to extract a well-sampled rotation curve. The rotation velocity rises in the inner disk, flattens at 72+/-3 km/s, and remains flat to the last measured point of the disk (~7.5 kpc). The dynamical mass of UGCA 105 at this outermost point, (9+/-2)x10^9 Solar masses, is ~10 times as large as the luminous baryonic components (neutral atomic gas and stars). The proximity and favorable inclination (55 degrees) of UGCA 105 make it a promising target for high-resolution studies of both star formation and rotational dynamics in a nearby low-mass galaxy.Comment: The Astronomical Journal, in pres

Sick Britain: A call for mandatory Health Impact Assessments across government with the support of a dedicated ‘Health in All Policies’ support unit

Health is affected by a wide range of factors, from income, employment, and education, to pollution, access to green space and social networks. Health gaps arise through the unequal distribution of the wider determinants of health. Many of these factors are outside the direct control of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Working cross-government for health improvement is likely to lead to better designed and implemented policies which improve every aspect of society. A Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach describes how health and health equity can be improved through embedding consideration of health in multi-sector decision making. Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) are a mechanism for delivering an HiAP approach across national and local governments, creating the conditions for healthy lives

Geochemistry and related studies of Clyde Estuary sediments

Geochemical and related studies have been made of near-surface sediments from the River Clyde estuary and adjoining areas, extending from Glasgow to the N, and W as far as the Holy Loch on the W coast of Scotland, UK. Multibeam echosounder, sidescan sonar and shallow seismic data, taken with core information, indicate that a shallow layer of modern sediment, often less than a metre thick, rests on earlier glacial and post-glacial sediments. The offshore Quaternary history can be aligned with onshore sequences, with the recognition of buried drumlins, settlement of muds from quieter water, probably behind an ice dam, and later tidal delta deposits. The geochemistry of contaminants within the cores also indicates shallow contaminated sediments, often resting on pristine pre-industrial deposits at depths less than 1 m. The distribution of different contaminants with depth in the sediment, such as Pb (and Pb isotopes), organics and radionuclides, allow chronologies of contamination from different sources to be suggested. Dating was also attempted using microfossils, radiocarbon and 210Pb, but with limited success. Some of the spatial distribution of contaminants in the surface sediments can be related to grain-size variations. Contaminants are highest, both in absolute terms and in enrichment relative to the natural background, in the urban and inner estuary and in the Holy Loch, reflecting the concentration of industrial activity

China's soil and groundwater management challenges: Lessons from the UK's experience and opportunities for China

There are a number of specific opportunities for UK and China to work together on contaminated land management issues as China lacks comprehensive and systematic planning for sustainable risk based land management, encompassing both contaminated soil and groundwater and recycling and reuse of soil. It also lacks comprehensive risk assessment systems, structures to support risk management decision making, processes for verification of remediation outcome, systems for record keeping and preservation and integration of contamination issues into land use planning, along with procedures for ensuring effective health and safety considerations during remediation projects, and effective evaluation of costs versus benefits and overall sustainability. A consequence of the absence of these overarching frameworks has been that remediation takes place on an ad hoc basis. At a specific site management level, China lacks capabilities in site investigation and consequent risk assessment systems, in particular related to conceptual modelling and risk evaluation. There is also a lack of shared experience of practical deployment of remediation technologies in China, analogous to the situation before the establishment of the independent, non-profit organisation CL:AIRE (Contaminated Land: Applications In Real Environments) in 1999 in the UK. Many local technology developments are at lab-scale or pilot-scale stage without being widely put into use. Therefore, a shared endeavour is needed to promote the development of technically and scientifically sound land management as well as soil and human health protection to improve the sustainability of the rapid urbanisation in China