Discovery of planetary nebulae using predictive mid-infrared diagnostics

We demonstrate a newly developed mid-infrared planetary nebula (PN) selection technique. It is designed to enable efficient searches for obscured, previously unknown, PN candidates present in the photometric source catalogues of Galactic plane MIR sky surveys. Such selection is now possible via new, sensitive, high-to-medium resolution, MIR satellite surveys such as those from the Spitzer Space Telescope and the all-sky Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite missions. MIR selection is based on how different colour-colour planes isolate zones (sometimes overlapping) that are predominately occupied by different astrophysical object types. These techniques depend on the reliability of the available MIR source photometry. In this pilot study we concentrate on MIR point source detections and show that it is dangerous to take the MIR GLIMPSE (Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire) photometry from Spitzer for each candidate at face value without examining the actual MIR image data. About half of our selected sources are spurious detections due to the applied source detection algorithms being affected by complex MIR backgrounds and the de-blending of diffraction spikes around bright MIR point sources into point sources themselves. Nevertheless, once this additional visual diagnostic checking is performed, valuable MIR selected PN candidates are uncovered. Four turned out to have faint, compact, optical counterparts in our H-alpha survey data missed in previous optical searches. We confirm all of these as true PNe via our follow-up optical spectroscopy. This lends weight to the veracity of our MIR technique. It demonstrates sufficient robustness that high-confidence samples of new Galactic PN candidates can be extracted from these MIR surveys without confirmatory optical spectroscopy and imaging. This is problematic or impossible when the extinction is large.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 7 tables; accepted for publication in MNRA

Detailed Studies of IPHAS sources. II. Sab 19, a true planetary nebula and its mimic crossing the Perseus Arm

The INT Photometric H$\alpha$ Survey (IPHAS) has provided us with a number of new-emission line sources, among which planetary nebulae (PNe) constitute an important fraction. Here we present a detailed analysis of the IPHAS nebula Sab\,19 (IPHASX\,J055242.8+262116) based on radio, infrared, and optical images and intermediate- and high-dispersion longslit spectra. Sab\,19 consists of a roundish 0.10 pc in radius double-shell nebula surrounded by a much larger 2.8 pc in radius external shell with a prominent H-shaped filament. We confirm the nature of the main nebula as a PN whose sub-solar N/O ratio abundances, low ionized mass, peculiar radial velocity, and low-mass central star allow us to catalog it as a type III PN. Apparently, the progenitor star of Sab\,19 became a PN when crossing the Perseus Arm during a brief visit of a few Myr. The higher N/O ratio and velocity shift $\simeq$40 \kms\ of the external shell with respect to the main nebula and its large ionized mass suggest that it is not truly associated with Sab\,19, but it is rather dominated by a Str\"omgren zone in the interstellar medium ionized by the PN central star.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Smallest Number of Sensors for k-Covering

This paper presents some theoretical results on the smaller number Nk(a, b) of sensors to achieve k coverage for the rectangular area [0, a] × [0, b]. The first properties show the numbers Nk(a, b) are sub-additive and increasing on each variable. Based on these results, some lower and upper bounds for Nk(a, b) are introduced. The main result of the article proves that the minimal density of sensors to achieve k-coverage is (k) ≤ k/2 improving a previous result of Ammari and Das [2]. Finally, the numbers N1(a, b) are tabled for some small values of a, b

Further Studies of the Association of Planetary Nebula BMP J16135406 with Galactic Open Cluster NGC 6067

Planetary Nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of Galactic open clusters are powerful probes that allow precise determination of their distance and crucially their initial mass on the main sequence. Here, we revisit the physical association of the PN BMP J1613–5406 with the open cluster NGC 6067 and present our preliminary results based on our new ESO/VLT FORS2 data. Our PN spectral data permit the calculation of a precise radial velocity and reddening to the PN that shows a tight consistency with the literature corresponding cluster parameters including importantly the radial velocity. Our measurements, combined with the agreement between the distances of the two objects and the fact that the PN is located well within the cluster boundaries, confirm that the PN is physically associated with the cluster. The cluster has a turn-off mass of around 5 solar masses that indicates a PN initial mass of around 5.6 solar masses. This is closer to the theoretical lower limit of core-collapse supernova formation than has ever been previously observed, providing a unique opportunity for further stellar and Galactic chemical evolution studies using this system

The effects of leaflet material properties on the simulated function of regurgitant mitral valves

Advances in three-dimensional imaging provide the ability to construct and analyze finite element (FE) models to evaluate the biomechanical behavior and function of atrioventricular valves. However, while obtaining patient-specific valve geometry is now possible, non-invasive measurement of patient-specific leaflet material properties remains nearly impossible. Both valve geometry and tissue properties play a significant role in governing valve dynamics, leading to the central question of whether clinically relevant insights can be attained from FE analysis of atrioventricular valves without precise knowledge of tissue properties. As such we investigated 1) the influence of tissue extensibility and 2) the effects of constitutive model parameters and leaflet thickness on simulated valve function and mechanics. We compared metrics of valve function (e.g., leaflet coaptation and regurgitant orifice area) and mechanics (e.g., stress and strain) across one normal and three regurgitant mitral valve (MV) models with common mechanisms of regurgitation (annular dilation, leaflet prolapse, leaflet tethering) of both moderate and severe degree. We developed a novel fully-automated approach to accurately quantify regurgitant orifice areas of complex valve geometries. We found that the relative ordering of the mechanical and functional metrics was maintained across a group of valves using material properties up to 15% softer than the representative adult mitral constitutive model. Our findings suggest that FE simulations can be used to qualitatively compare how differences and alterations in valve structure affect relative atrioventricular valve function even in populations where material properties are not precisely known

Determining the need for a breast cancer awareness educational intervention for women with mild/moderate levels of intellectual disability: A qualitative descriptive study

OBJECTIVE: Following a review of the existing body of literature, this study aimed to explore the need for a breast cancer awareness intervention specifically targeted at women with mild/moderate levels of intellectual disability (ID) and provide perspectives on the preferred processes and content underpinning an intervention. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive design using semi‐structured, individual (n = 5) and focus group (n = 5) interviews were used to engage with a non‐probability, purposive sample of key stakeholders (n = 25) including women with mild/moderate levels of ID, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Findings highlighted that an educational intervention should focus on breast awareness as opposed to breast cancer awareness. Additionally, findings identified that a combined breast awareness and healthy living intervention could be effective. However, the intervention needs to have a multimodal, hands‐on, person‐centred approach to learning which is underpinned by theory. Furthermore, integrating the caregivers and healthcare professionals into the intervention is recommended. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study provide a foundation for developing and implementing a theoretically underpinned, multimodal, breast awareness and healthy living educational intervention for women with mild/moderate levels of ID

Defining breast cancer awareness and identifying barriers to breast cancer awareness for women with an intellectual disability: A review of the literature

Introduction: Incidence rates for developing breast cancer are similar for women regardless of intellectual ability. However, women with an intellectual disability present with advanced breast cancers, which often have a poor prognosis. Method: A structured narrative review of the literature was performed to explore the concepts of breast awareness and breast cancer awareness and subsequently, identify barriers to breast cancer awareness encountered by women with an intellectual disability. Results: A total of 22 studies involving people with varying levels of intellectual disability informed this review. The barriers to breast cancer awareness encountered by women with an intellectual disability include: lack of their understanding, the role of the carer and literacy issues. Conclusion: Identifying the barriers to breast cancer awareness for women with an intellectual disability will help to facilitate breast cancer awareness which has the potential to result in better long-term outcomes through an early diagnosis of breast cancer

IGAPS: the merged IPHAS and UVEX optical surveys of the northern Galactic plane

The INT Galactic Plane Survey (IGAPS) is the merger of the optical photometric surveys, IPHAS and UVEX, based on data from the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) obtained between 2003 and 2018. Here, we present the IGAPS point source catalogue. It contains 295.4 million rows providing photometry in the filters, i, r, narrow-band Ha, g, and URGO. The IGAPS footprint fills the Galactic coordinate range, |b| 5s confidence).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version