A study of the mass loss rates of symbiotic star systems

The amount of mass loss in symbiotic systems is investigated, specifically mass loss via the formation of jets in R Aquarii (R Aqr). The jets in R Aqr have been observed in the X-ray by Chandra over a four year time period. The jet changes on times scales of a year and new outflows have been observed. Understanding the amount of mass and the frequency of ejection further constrain the ability of the white dwarf in the system to accrete enough mass to become a Type 1a supernova progenitor. The details of multi-wavelength studies, such as speed, density and spatial extent of the jets will be discussed in order to understand the mass balance in the binary system. We examine other symbiotic systems to determine trends in mass loss in this class of objects.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of "The Multicoloured Landscape of Compact Objects and their Explosive Origins

Data Gaps in Evidence-Based Research on Small Water Enterprises in Developing Countries

This paper assess the literature on small water enterprises -- water delivery operations that predominantly provide water at the community level. A research agenda is recommended to advance knowledge on effective SWE service

Bilayer Quantum Hall Systems at nuT = 1: Coulomb Drag and the Transition from Weak to Strong Interlayer Coupling

Measurements revealing anomalously large frictional drag at the transition between the weakly and strongly coupled regimes of a bilayer two-dimensional electron system at total Landau level filling factor nuT = 1 are reported. This result suggests the existence of fluctuations, either static or dynamic, near the phase boundary separating the quantized Hall state at small layer separations from the compressible state at larger separations. Interestingly, the anomalies in drag seem to persist to larger layer separations than does interlayer phase coherence as detected in tunneling

Structural Racism, Black Out-group Preference, and Mental Health

Structural racism has increasingly been implicated as a root cause of racial disparities in health and well-being. Specifically, areas where White Americans hold more negative attitudes toward Black Americans have been associated with both anti-Black discrimination and poorer Black physical and mental health. However, previous research has relied on cross-sectional designs and has neglected the potential effects of Black community-level attitudes on mental health. We hypothesized that higher aggregate pro-White bias among White Americans would be associated with higher implicit out-group preference among Black residents living in the same communities, above and beyond the effects of traditional measures of structural racism, and that greater exposure to White residents would strengthen the relationship between White attitudes and Black out-group preference. We further expected that Black out-group preference would predict detrimental Black mental health outcomes. Drawing upon data from Project Implicit, the US Census Bureau, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the current study utilized a series of two-level autoregressive models to test potential associations between changes in White community-level attitudes and Black implicit bias. County-level bias scores were post-stratified by age and divided into six time periods from 2008-2019. Results indicated that increases in county-level White in-group preference were associated with more negative implicit out-group attitudes among Black Americans. There was no interaction between regional White bias and out-group contact, and no evidence that aversive racism (high implicit, low explicit bias among White Americans) predicted Black Americans’ implicit attitudes. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the associations – White implicit and explicit bias predicted Black implicit bias after controlling for traditional measures of structural racism (Black unemployment, Black educational attainment, and Black incarceration rates) and in areas with differing numbers of Black respondents. With respect to mental health, increases in regional Black out-group preference predicted a higher number of poor mental health days among Black residents, but the relationship was no longer significant after accounting for White Americans’ regional implicit bias. Our results suggest that White Americans’ community-level bias, particularly implicit bias, may exert unique effects on Black racial attitudes and psychological well-being, potentially contributing to intergroup polarization and diminished mental health

Double layer two-dimensional electron systems: Probing the transition from weak to strong coupling with Coulomb drag

Frictional drag measurements revealing anomalously large dissipation at the transition between the weakly- and strongly-coupled regimes of a bilayer two-dimensional electron system at total Landau level filling factor $\nu_T =1$ are reported. This result suggests the existence of fluctuations, either static or dynamic, near the phase boundary separating the quantized Hall state at small layer separations from the compressible state at larger separations. Interestingly, the anomalies in drag seem to persist to larger layer separations than does interlayer phase coherence as detected in tunneling.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Discovery of a Possible Early-T Thick-Disk Subdwarf from the AllWISE2 Motion Survey

We have discovered a potential T0 $\pm$ 1 subdwarf from a search for sources in the AllWISE2 Motion Survey that do not have counterparts in surveys at shorter wavelengths. With a tangential velocity of $\sim$170 kms, this object - WISE J071121.36-573634.2 - has kinematics that are consistent with the thick-disk population of the Milky Way. Spectral fits suggest a low-metallicity for this object but also allow for the possibility of unresolved multiplicity. If WISE J0711-5736 is indeed an sdT0 dwarf, it would be only the second early-T subdwarf discovered to date.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted to A

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Epidemiology and Risk Factors

The epidemiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) has evolved considerably during the past several years. The term LUTS describes a distinct phenotype and allows for a broad epidemiologic description of urinary symptoms at a population level. Although it is becoming the preferred term for studying urinary symptoms in populations, LUTS remains interconnected with BPH in the literature. The incidence and prevalence of BPH and LUTS are increasing rapidly as the US population ages. BPH and LUTS are associated with serious medical morbidities, an increased risk of falls, depression, diminished health-related quality of life, and billions of dollars in annual health care costs. Although age and genetics play important roles in the etiology of BPH and LUTS, recent insights at the population level have revealed that modifiable risk factors are likely key components as well. Serum dihydrotestosterone, obesity, elevated fasting glucose, diabetes, fat and red meat intake, and inflammation increase the risk; vegetables, regular alcohol consumption, exercise, and NSAIDs decrease the risk

The Simple Life in a Nutshell

Book promoting vegetarianism as part of a healthy lifestyle. Not a cookbook, but does contain suggestions on which foods to eat and which foods to avoid. Also includes suggestions for general health such as exercise and rest.https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/foodiesguide-1910/1005/thumbnail.jp