Response of Ionospheric Electron Density to a Change of Electron Temperature

Spatial and temporal models used to study response of ionospheric electron density to change of electron temperatur

Plasma Diagnostics by Antenna Impedance Measurements

The impedance of an electrically short antenna immersed in a plasma provides an excellent in situ diagnostic tool for electron density and other plasma parameters. By electrically short we mean that the wavelength of the free-space electromagnetic wave that would be excited at the driving frequency is much longer than the physical size of the antenna. Probes using this impedance technique have had a long history with sounding rockets and satellites, stretching back to the early 1960s. This active technique could provide information on composition and temperature of plasmas for comet or planetary missions. Advantages of the impedance probe technique are discussed and two classes of instruments built and flown by SDL-USU for determining electron density (the capacitance and plasma frequency probes) are described

Multicenter, randomized study to optimize bowel for colon capsule endoscopy

AIM To assess the cleansing efficacy and safety of a new Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) bowel preparation regimen. METHODS This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing two CCE regimens. Subjects were asymptomatic and average risk for colorectal cancer. The second generation CCE system (PillCam® COLON 2; Medtronic, Yoqneam, Israel) was utilized. Preparation regimens differed in the 1st and 2nd boosts with the Study regimen using oral sulfate solution (89 mL) with diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium solution (“diatrizoate solution”) (boost 1 = 60 mL, boost 2 = 30 mL) and the Control regimen oral sulfate solution (89 mL) alone. The primary outcome was overall and segmental colon cleansing. Secondary outcomes included safety, polyp detection, colonic transit, CCE completion and capsule excretion = 12 h. RESULTS Both regimens had similar cleansing efficacy for the whole colon (Adequate: Study = 75.9%, Control = 77.3%; P = 0.88) and individual segments. In the Study group, CCE completion was superior (Study = 90.9%, Control = 76.9%; P = 0.048) and colonic transit was more often \u3c 40 min (Study = 21.8%, Control = 4%; P = 0.0073). More Study regimen subjects experienced adverse events (Study = 19.4%, Control = 3.4%; P = 0.0061), and this difference did not appear related to diatrizoate solution. Adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal in nature and no serious adverse events related either to the bowel preparation regimen or the capsule were observed. There was a trend toward higher polyp detection with the Study regimen, but this did not achieve statistical significance for any size category. Mean transit time through the entire gastrointestinal tract, from ingestion to excretion, was shorter with the Study regimen while mean colonic transit times were similar for both study groups. CONCLUSION A CCE bowel preparation regimen using oral sulfate solution and diatrizoate solution as a boost agent is effective, safe, and achieved superior CCE completion. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved

Molecular excitation in the Eagle nebula's fingers

Context: The M16 nebula is a relatively nearby Hii region, powered by O stars from the open cluster NGC 6611, which borders to a Giant Molecular Cloud. Radiation from these hot stars has sculpted columns of dense obscuring material on a few arcmin scales. The interface between these pillars and the hot ionised medium provides a textbook example of a Photodissociation Region (PDR). Aims: To constrain the physical conditions of the atomic and molecular material with submillimeter spectroscopic observations. Methods: We used the APEX submillimeter telescope to map a ~3'x3' region in the CO J=3-2, 4-3 and 7-6 rotational lines, and a subregion in atomic carbon lines. We also observed C18O(3-2) and CO(7-6) with longer integrations on five peaks found in the CO(3-2) map. The large scale structure of the pillars is derived from the molecular lines' emission distribution. We estimate the magnitude of the velocity gradient at the tips of the pillars and use LVG modelling to constrain their densities and temperatures. Excitation temperatures and carbon column densities are derived from the atomic carbon lines. Results: The atomic carbon lines are optically thin and excitation temperatures are of order 60 K to 100 K, well consistent with observations of other Hii region-molecular cloud interfaces. We derive somewhat lower temperatures from the CO line ratios, of order 40 K. The Ci/CO ratio is around 0.1 at the fingers tips.Comment: 4 pages, APEX A&A special issue, accepte

Anti-correlation between the mass of a supermassive black hole and the mass accretion rate in type I ultraluminous infrared galaxies and nearby QSOs

We discovered a significant anti-correlation between the mass of a supermassive black hole (SMBH), $M_{\rm BH}$, and the luminosity ratio of infrared to active galactic nuclei (AGN) Eddington luminosity, $L_{\rm IR}/L_{\rm Edd}$, over four orders of magnitude for ultraluminous infrared galaxies with type I Seyfert nuclei (type I ULIRGs) and nearby QSOs. This anti-correlation ($M_{\rm BH}$ vs. $L_{\rm IR}/L_{\rm Edd}$) can be interpreted as the anti-correlation between the mass of a SMBH and the rate of mass accretion onto a SMBH normalized by the AGN Eddington rate, $\dot{M}_{\rm BH}/\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$. In other words, the mass accretion rate $\dot{M}_{\rm BH}$ is not proportional to that of the central BH mass. Thus, this anti-correlation indicates that BH growth is determined by the external mass supply process, and not the AGN Eddington-limited mechanism. Moreover, we found an interesting tendency for type I ULIRGs to favor a super-Eddington accretion flow, whereas QSOs tended to show a sub-Eddington flow. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that a central SMBH grows by changing its mass accretion rate from super-Eddington to sub-Eddington. According to a coevolution scenario of ULIRGs and QSOs based on the radiation drag process, it has been predicted that a self-gravitating massive torus, whose mass is larger than a central BH, exists in the early phase of BH growth (type I ULIRG phase) but not in the final phase of BH growth (QSO phase). At the same time, if one considers the mass accretion rate onto a central SMBH via a turbulent viscosity, the anti-correlation ($M_{\rm BH}$ vs. $L_{\rm IR}/L_{\rm Edd}$) is well explained by the positive correlation between the mass accretion rate $\dot{M}_{\rm BH}$ and the mass ratio of a massive torus to a SMBH.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Waves on the surface of the Orion molecular cloud

Massive stars influence their parental molecular cloud, and it has long been suspected that the development of hydrodynamical instabilities can compress or fragment the cloud. Identifying such instabilities has proved difficult. It has been suggested that elongated structures (such as the `pillars of creation') and other shapes arise because of instabilities, but alternative explanations are available. One key signature of an instability is a wave-like structure in the gas, which has hitherto not been seen. Here we report the presence of `waves' at the surface of the Orion molecular cloud near where massive stars are forming. The waves seem to be a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability that arises during the expansion of the nebula as gas heated and ionized by massive stars is blown over pre-existing molecular gas.Comment: Preprint of publication in Natur

CARMA Large Area Star Formation Survey: Observational Analysis of Filaments in the Serpens South Molecular Cloud

We present the N2H+(J=1-0) map of the Serpens South molecular cloud obtained as part of the CARMA Large Area Star Formation Survey (CLASSy). The observations cover 250 square arcminutes and fully sample structures from 3000 AU to 3 pc with a velocity resolution of 0.16 km/s, and they can be used to constrain the origin and evolution of molecular cloud filaments. The spatial distribution of the N2H+ emission is characterized by long filaments that resemble those observed in the dust continuum emission by Herschel. However, the gas filaments are typically narrower such that, in some cases, two or three quasi-parallel N2H+ filaments comprise a single observed dust continuum filament. The difference between the dust and gas filament widths casts doubt on Herschel ability to resolve the Serpens South filaments. Some molecular filaments show velocity gradients along their major axis, and two are characterized by a steep velocity gradient in the direction perpendicular to the filament axis. The observed velocity gradient along one of these filaments was previously postulated as evidence for mass infall toward the central cluster, but these kind of gradients can be interpreted as projection of large-scale turbulence.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, published in ApJL (July 2014

Making the invisible more visible: Reflections on practice-based humanising lifeworld-led research - existential opportunities for supporting dignity, compassion and wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: The need for dignity and compassion in healthcare is enshrined in policy, but is often difficult to enact in practice and what is precisely meant by these concepts is unclear. In this paper, we have explored theoretical underpinnings which form the basis of a lifeworld-led approach which was used in a research study to support the humanity of service providers and users alike. AIM: In this article, we share our analysis of what we have learnt after undertaking an innovative appreciative action research project with patients and staff in a stroke ward with the aim of exploring if a novel phenomenologically driven and philosophically derived humanising framework could be applied in health care. Following the research, we wanted to develop a theoretical understanding of the processes occurring during the research in order to provide a framework and language which could be used to support practical lifeworld developments in the future. We analysed the approach through Participatory and Appreciative Action Reflection. FINDINGS: As researchers, we found that the approach was underpinned by four key existential principles. The first principle was recognising a mutually arising reality rather than a reality 'out there'. The second was recognising a reality which was constantly changing rather than 'fixed'. The third was recognising that we needed to work from within, as part of a human living system rather than trying to control reality from the 'outside'. Finally, we recognised that this reality could only be accessed through human knowing, including embodied knowing rather than intellectual knowing alone. These principles challenged many of the usual ways of thinking and working within research and healthcare contexts. CONCLUSION: Understanding the processes and reality in this way gave new perspectives; enhancing our understandings and views of ourselves, what is important and most importantly what is possible in caring systems

Sources of Sex Information Used by Young British Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW) and Women Who Have Sex Exclusively with Men (WSEM): Evidence from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

There is little consideration about the provision of information about sex to women who have sex with women (WSW). This study drew on data from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyle, a nationally representative survey of people in Great Britain. Logistic regression was undertaken to examine firstly the relationships between WSW and women who have sex exclusively with men (WSEM) and their main source of information about sex, and secondly between WSW/WSEM and unmet need for information about sex. Each source was included as the binary outcome indicating yes this was the main source, or no this was not the main source of information about sex. The results found that WSW had significantly lower odds of reporting lessons at schools as their main source of information, and significantly higher odds of reporting sources defined as ‘other’ (predominantly first girlfriend/boyfriend or sexual partner) as their main source of information. Reported levels of unmet need for information was also higher amongst young WSW compared with WSEM. This study provides new insights into the sex educational needs of young women and highlights the need for sex education in schools in Great Britain to include information on a full-range of sexual practices, including same-sex sexual relationships

Fungi in a Warmer World - Fungal diversity from the Peak Warming of the Miocene Climate Optimum as Recorded in the Latah Formation, Clarkia, Idaho, USA

Microfungi are a vital part of ecosystems as they help with key processes, such as carbon and nutrient cycling, especially through the actions of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic members (Nuñez Otaño et al., 2015, 2021; Willis et al., 2018). Microfungi can also be good indicators of plant biodiversity in an area because many fungal taxa are host-specific (Rutten et al., 2021; Francioli et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2021; Wijayawardene et al., 2022 ). Despite being crucial components in ecosystems, they are often overlooked. In the fossil record, microfungi have a high preservaon rate and they are often preserved close to the original substrate they were deposited in. This makes them an important proxy for understanding local past ecological and climatological conditions (Romero et al., 2021, O’Keefe et al., 2017). The Fungi in a Warmer World project seeks to use fossil fungal assemblages to study changes in biodiversity during the Miocene Climate Opmum (MCO), a period of peak warming that closely mirrors current and projected warming trends (Steinthorsdotter et al., 2021). The current atmospheric CO2 concentraon is around 420 ppm but is rapidly approaching the MCO average of 450-550 ppm (Steinthorsdotter et al., 2021).https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2022/1045/thumbnail.jp