Origin of the viewing-angle dependence of the optical continuum emission in quasars

The orientation-dependence of the optical continuum emission in radio-loud quasars is investigated using a new, complete sample of low-frequency-selected quasars, the Molonglo Quasar Sample (MQS). The optical continuum is found to be highly anisotropic, brightening continuously from lobe- to core-dominated quasars by 3-5 mag. It is argued that aspect-dependent extinction, rather than relativistic boosting as has been previously proposed, provides the simplest explanation consistent with the data. The reddening hypothesis is supported by both the steeper optical slopes and the larger Balmer decrements found in lobe-dominated quasars, as well as the stronger anisotropy seen at blue wavelengths. The dust responsible is shown to be physically associated with the quasar, lying mostly at radii between the broad and narrow-line regions in a clumpy distribution. Such a geometry is reminiscent of a torus. However, substantial numbers of dust clouds must lie within the torus opening angle, contributing to an increasing average optical depth with increasing viewing angle away from the jet axis.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figures, MNRAS accepte

Implementation of a Critical Incident Stress Management Program for Nurse Anesthetists.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare is a stressful profession where in addition to routine stressors, there are critical incident (CI) events which are occurrences capable of overwhelming an individual’s normal coping mechanisms. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve the process by which certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) exposed to critical incident events are provided post-critical incident support thus mitigating the potential for CI stress METHODS: We created a CI stress management pilot program for nurse anesthetists employed by an academic hospital located in the Southeastern United States. The program was based upon concepts introduced by Medically Induced Trauma Support Services and the Scott Three-Tiered Interventional Model of Second Victim Support. The program goal was to offer 100% of CRNAs exposed to a CI event supportive measures prior to assuming care for a patient other than the patient involved in the CI event. The program was piloted for five months as data was collected regarding the number and type of critical incident occurrences as well as the percentage of individuals offered said support post-critical incident. The National Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology was utilized throughout the pilot period to evaluate for any changes needed to the program as issues arose. RESULTS: Over the five month period, three CI events occurred. Two of the three individuals involved in the events received support as prescribed. Failure of the third individual to receive timely support was due to facility and staff limitations. Nevertheless, the initial receptivity to the program was positive. Future improvement of the program’s processes are intended to yield support offered to 100% of individuals involved in a critical incident in a more timely manner

Maize Germplasm Conservation in Southern California's Urban Gardens: Introduced Diversity Beyond ex situ and in situ Management.

Contemporary germplasm conservation studies largely focus on ex situ and in situ management of diversity within centers of genetic diversity. Transnational migrants who transport and introduce landraces to new locations may catalyze a third type of conservation that combines both approaches. Resulting populations may support reduced diversity as a result of evolutionary forces such as genetic drift, selection, and gene flow, yet they may also be more diverse as a result of multiple introductions, selective breeding and cross pollination among multiple introduced varietals. In this study, we measured the amount and structure of maize molecular genetic diversity in samples collected from home gardens and community gardens maintained by immigrant farmers in Southern California. We used the same markers to measure the genetic diversity and structure of commercially available maize varieties and compared our data to previously reported genetic diversity statistics of Mesoamerican landraces. Our results reveal that transnational dispersal creates an opportunity for the maintenance of maize genetic diversity beyond its recognized centers of diversity

Sync or sink? Interpersonal synchrony impacts self-esteem

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Agricultural pricing and environmental degradation

The link between agricultural pricing and land degradation is often difficult to analyze empirically. The authors'understanding of how agricultural supply responds to changing prices in developing countries is incomplete. Even more incomplete is the author's analysis of subsequent impacts on the resource base sustaining agricultural production. Yet available evidence suggests that some important effects do exist, and much further analysis of them is warranted. The social, economic, and environmental relationships that determine the often countervailing effects of price changes on land use and management are extremely complex. Not enough is known about: (1) farming systems in developing countries; (2) open-access use and common property resource rights; (3) land tenure regimes and security; (4) access to technology and other farming systems information; (5) the distribution of wealth and income; and (6) coping strategies for variable climatic, economic, and social conditions. All these factors influence how rural households respond to price changes in terms of managing land and natural resources, and often they may override the incentive effects of price changes. Changes in pricing policies will then be less effective in correcting resource degradation than other approaches to dealing with its underlying causes. Such approaches include providing better research and extension advice, improving property rights and management, and establishing more secure tenure or access rights. At the same time, it is wrong to assume that poor farmers - even those in resource-poor regions far from major markets - are totally isolated from agricultural markets. Virtually all subsistence households require some regular market income for cash purchases of agricultural inputs and basic necessities; many small farmers provide important cash and export crops. So changes in market prices often significantly affect the livelihoods of rural groups. Clearly, the economic incentives emerging from these impacts will affect farmers'decisions to invest in land management and improvements. Just because we do not always understand the economic and social factors determining these incentive effects does not mean they do not exist. Nor should the complexity of the links between price changes and resource management - which sometimes appear counterintuitive - deter further analysis of the role of agricultural pricing in land degradation.Environmental Economics&Policies,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Economic Theory&Research,Agricultural Research

Measuring energy efficiency and its contribution towards meeting CO2 targets: estimates for 29 OECD countries

Using results for 29 OECD countries from the estimation of an extended version of the model advocated by Filippini and Hunt (2011a), actual energy consumption and CO2 emissions are compared to notional energy consumption and CO2 emissions if the countries were energy efficient. This shows the contribution that improvements in energy efficiency can make towards the reduction in CO2 emissions. It is found that in many countries efficiency improvements alone are not likely to be sufficient to bring about reductions in CO2 emissions required to meet ambitious obligations. However, this is not the case across all countries included in the investigation. Moreover, it is shown that some of the world’s largest OECD emitters can make a significant contribution to CO2 reductions from becoming energy efficient. Therefore the negotiations of the new legally binding treaty agreed under the Durban Platform should promote emission reduction targets that incentivise national energy efficiency.emissions, energy efficiency, Durban Platform.

Historical forest biomass dynamics modelled with Landsat spectral trajectories

Acknowledgements National Forest Inventory data are available online, provided by Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (España). Landsat images are available online, provided by the USGS.Peer reviewedPostprin

IDN1 and IDN2 are required for de novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark affecting genes and transposons. Screening for mutants that fail to establish DNA methylation yielded two we termed "involved in de novo" (idn) 1 and 2. IDN1 encodes DMS3, an SMC-related protein, and IDN2 encodes a previously unknown double-stranded RNA-binding protein with homology to SGS3. IDN1 and IDN2 control de novo methylation and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated maintenance methylation and are components of the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway