Estimate of the impact of background particles on the X-Ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer on IXO

We present the results of a study on the impact of particles of galactic (GCR) and solar origin for the X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) aboard an astronomical satellite flying in an orbit at the second Lagrangian point (L2). The detailed configuration presented in this paper is the one adopted for the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO) study, however the derived estimates can be considered a conservative limit for ATHENA, that is the IXO redefined mission proposed to ESA. This work is aimed at the estimate of the residual background level expected on the focal plane detector during the mission lifetime, a crucial information in the development of any instrumental configuration that optimizes the XMS scientific performances. We used the Geant4 toolkit, a Monte Carlo based simulator, to investigate the rejection efficiency of the anticoincidence system and assess the residual background on the detector.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Gene LeTourneau Correspondence

Entries include a biography and a typed update on personal stationery

Gambling and sexual behaviors in African-American adolescents

Objectives: Late adolescence represents a developmental risk period when many youth become involved in multiple forms of high-risk behaviors with adverse consequences. This study assessed the degree to which two such behaviors, adolescent sexual behaviors and gambling, were associated in a community-based sample with a large African-American presence. Study design: Data are derived from a cohort study. This study focuses on 427 African-American participants with complete information on gambling and sexual behaviors by age 18 (72% of original cohort). Gambling involvement and related problems were based on responses to the South Oaks Gambling Screen — Revised for Adolescents. Several questions assessed sexual behaviors, including age of initiation. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographics, intervention status, impulsivity, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and alcohol and illegal drug use. Results: Almost half of the sample (49%, n = 211) had gambled at least once before age 18. More gamblers than non-gamblers had initiated sexual intercourse by age 18 (aOR: 2.29 [1.16, 4.52]). Among those who had initiated sexual activity, more gamblers than non-gamblers with high impulsivity levels at age 13 (vs. low impulsivity levels) had become pregnant or had impregnated someone. Among those who had initiated sexual activity by age 18, more male gamblers had impregnated someone by age 18 as compared to female gamblers becoming pregnant. Conclusions: Gambling and sexual behaviors often co-occur among adolescents. Such findings prompt the need for the inclusion of gambling, an often overlooked risky behavior, in behavioral prevention/intervention programs targeting adolescents

Dual JAK1 and STAT3 mutations in a breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

SCOPUS: ar.jDecretOANoAutActifinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una reserva forestal nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called «mal del ciprés» (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de Austrocedrus chilensis sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como «mal del ciprés»; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar el desarrollo temporal de la mortalidad a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Tendencias en el desarrollo temporal del mal del ciprés en parcelas permanentes de una reserva forestal nacional de Austrocedrus chilensis (Patagonia, Argentina)

Longevity is a characteristic of forest trees that influences their responses to challenges by biotic and abiotic stresses and the temporal development of symptoms. Monitoring programs have been extensively used to detect the impact of climatic change, air pollution and outbreaks of pathogens on forest health, growth and dynamics. In Argentina, forests of Patagonian cypress are affected since mid twenty century by a mortality process called «mal del ciprés» (cypress mortality), but information about their temporal progression is scarce. In the present work we used a database from a program of dasometric permanent plots to analyse the temporal development of cypress mortality on plot and tree level, and determine qualitatively the spatial distribution of affected trees. Particular pulses of appearance of affected trees shared by all plots, rapid or slow progress of mortality at tree level and a homogeneous distribution of affected trees without a clear pattern of expansion from a central point were determined. The results indicate that the episodic appearance of affected trees can be related with warm and dry climatic periods and suggest that the individuals affected by cypress mortality share some special characteristics such as genetic background, developmental conditions or physiological mechanisms for drought responses.La longevidad de las especies arbóreas afecta la respuesta a estreses bióticos o abióticos y, en gran medida, determina el desarrollo temporal de los síntomas. Por tal motivo, los programas de monitoreo se han empleado para detectar el impacto del cambio climático, la polución ambiental o estallidos de patógenos en la sanidad y dinámica de los bosques. En Argentina, los bosques de Austrocedrus chilensis sufren desde 1945 una mortalidad masiva conocida como «mal del ciprés»; sin embargo, hay escasa información sobre su progresión temporal. En el presente trabajo una base de datos de un programa de parcelas permanentes se empleó para analizar el desarrollo temporal de la mortalidad a nivel de parcela e individuo y la distribución espacial de los árboles afectados. Se determinó que la aparición de síntomas sigue un patrón de pulsos compartido por todas las parcelas, con mortalidad rápida o lenta a nivel de individuo y una distribución homogénea de la mortalidad sin un patrón de expansión desde un punto central. Los resultados indican que los episodios de afectación pueden ser relacionados con períodos climáticos cálidos y secos, sugiriendo que los individuos afectados comparten características tales como background genético, condiciones de sitio o respuesta a la sequía.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Parent education interventions designed to support the transition to parenthood: A realist review

AbstractBackgroundPublic health nurses use parent education programmes to support individuals’ transition to parenthood. A wide array of these programmes exists; however, the approach must be accommodated by resources available in a publicly funded system. For example, some new-parent education approaches use 1:1 home visiting (with a nurse or trained lay-home visitor) but the costs of this intensive approach can be prohibitive. Because of this limitation there is an interest in identifying effective and efficient new parent educational approaches that can realistically be provided at a universal level. Unfortunately, there is a lack of high-quality evaluation identifying programmes or educational processes that meet these criteria.ObjectivesTo identify potentially effective new-parenting education interventions that could be implemented at a population level during the transition to parenthood period.DesignRealist synthesis.Data sourcesMedline, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, grey literature.Review methodsA realist review method generated a total of 72 papers that were used to inform the results. A three-pronged approach was used incorporating an initial search (6), a database search using applicable keywords and MeSH headings (58), and review of literature identified by advisory group (8 grey literature). An ‘implementation chain’ was developed to outline the overall logic and process behind parent education interventions and to guide the analysis.ResultsSeventy-two papers informed this review: 13 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, 34 intervention studies, 9 opinion papers, 8 programme reviews, and 8 grey literature reports. There was no compelling evidence to suggest that a single educational programme or delivery format was effective at a universal level. Some inherent issues were identified. For example, adult learning principles were overlooked and theories of parent–child interaction were not in evidence. No direct links between universal new-parent education programmes and child development outcomes were established. Programme reach and attrition were key challenges. Programme evaluation criteria were inconsistent, with an over-reliance on parent satisfaction or self-reported intention to change behaviour. There was evidence that effective facilitators helped increase parents’ perceived satisfaction with programmes.ConclusionsIt is unlikely that a single standardized format or programme will meet all the specific learning needs of parents. Multiple approaches that will allow people to access information or education at a time and in a format that suits them may be of value. The importance of the transition to parenthood and its impact on parent and child wellbeing warrant careful consideration of current programming and careful evaluation of future initiatives

Recent developments on micrometric fission chambers for high neutron fluxes

ISBN 9781424452071International audiencewith the development of innovative nuclear systems and new generation neutron sources, the nuclear instrumentation should be adapted. Since several years, we developed microscopic fission chambers to study the transmutation of minor actinides in high thermal-neutron fluxes. The recent developments done to fulfill the drastic conditions of irradiations are described in this paper together with the feedback from the measurements. Two installations were used: the HFR of the ILL for its highest thermal neutron flux of the world and the MEGAPIE target which was the first 1 MW liquid Pb-Bi spallation target in the world

On the origin of the reactor antineutrino anomalies in light of a new summation model with parameterized β−\beta^{-} transitions

We investigate the possible origins of the norm and shape reactor antineutrino anomalies in the framework of a summation model (SM) where $\beta^{-}$ transitions are simulated by a phenomenological Gamow-Teller $\beta$-decay strength model. The general trends of the discrepancies to the Huber-Mueller model on the antineutrino side can be reproduced both in norm and shape. From the exact electron-antineutrino correspondence of the SM model, we predict similar distortions in the electron spectra, suggesting that biases on the reference fission-electron spectra could be at the origin of the anomalies