Electromagnetic emission experiences using electric propulsion systems: A survey

As electric propulsion systems become ready to integrate with spacecraft systems, the impact of propulsion system radiated emissions are of significant interest. Radiated emissions from electromagnetic, electrostatic, and electrothermal systems have been characterized and results synopsized from the literature describing 21 space flight programs. Electromagnetic radiated emission results from ground tests and flight experiences are presented with particular attention paid to the performance of spacecraft subsystems and payloads during thruster operations. The impacts to transmission of radio frequency signals through plasma plumes are also reviewed

Case report: early aortic valve degeneration associated with interstitial deletion of chromosome 2-46,XX,del (2)(q31.3; q32.2).

Interstitial deletions within the long arm of chromosome 2, involving the 2q31q33 region, are rare but are known to be associated with delays in development, behavioral problems, facial dysmorphism and various hand/foot anomalies. Here, we describe a case with an interstitial 2q31.3.q32.2 deletion, presenting the previously described phenotype, exhibiting fibromyxoid degeneration of the aortic valve in addition to previously described clinical features. Interstitial deletion in chromosome 2q31.2q32.3 might be associated to a fibromyxoid degeneration of valvular leaflets generating regurgitation. Patients diagnosed with this mutation may require investigation to rule out a valvular disease

Resonant Formation of dμtd\mu t Molecules in Deuterium: An Atomic Beam Measurement of Muon Catalyzed dt Fusion

Resonant formation of $d\mu t$ molecules in collisions of muonic tritium ($\mu t$) on D$_2$ was investigated using a beam of $\mu t$ atoms, demonstrating a new direct approach in muon catalyzed fusion studies. Strong epithermal resonances in $d\mu t$ formation were directly revealed for the first time. From the time-of-flight analysis of $2036\pm 116$ $dt$ fusion events, a formation rate consistent with $0.73\pm (0.16)_{meas} \pm (0.09)_{model}$ times the theoretical prediction was obtained. For the largest peak at a resonance energy of $0.423 \pm 0.037$ eV, this corresponds to a rate of $(7.1 \pm 1.8) \times 10^9$ s$^{-1}$, more than an order of magnitude larger than those at low energies.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

When music speaks: An aoustic study of the speech surrogacy of the Nigerian Dùndún Talking Drum

Yorùbá dùndún drumming is an oral tradition which allows for manipulation of gliding pitch contours in ways that correspond to the differentiation of the Yorùbá linguistic tone levels. This feature enables the drum to be employed as both a musical instrument and a speech surrogate. In this study, we examined four modes of the dùndún talking drum, compared them to vocal singing and talking in the Yorùbá language, and analyzed the extent of microstructural overlap between these categories, making this study one of the first to examine the vocal surrogacy of the drum in song. We compared the fundamental frequency, timing pattern, and intensity contour of syllables from the same sample phrase recorded in the various communicative forms and we correlated each vocalization style with each of the corresponding drumming modes. We analyzed 30 spoken and sung verbal utterances and their corresponding drum and song excerpts collected from three native Yorùbá speakers and three professional dùndún drummers in Nigeria. The findings confirm that the dùndún can very accurately mimic microstructural acoustic temporal, fundamental frequency, and intensity characteristics of Yorùbá vocalization when doing so directly, and that this acoustic match systematically decreases for the drumming modes in which more musical context is specified. Our findings acoustically verify the distinction between four drumming mode categories and confirm their acoustical match to corresponding verbal modes. Understanding how musical and speech aspects interconnect in the dùndún talking drum clarifies acoustical properties that overlap between vocal utterances (speech and song) and corresponding imitations on the drum and verifies the potential functionality of speech surrogacy communications systems

An excess of goodness? Volunteering among Aid professionals in Cambodia

This paper explores the meaning of volunteering among professional aid workers. While they experience disenchantment in their daytime work, volunteering provides them with benefits lacking in their paid jobs. At the same time, a compensatory model does not capture the complex dimensions of this relationship. One motive behind their professional work – bringing about positive change for others - is also the driving force behind their voluntary practices. Such excess of doing good may be indicative of their overall commitment. If aid workers make sense of their actions within a framework of alienated labour, rendering their waged aid work as a commodity, volunteering emerges as a remedial response. At the same time, their paid and unpaid work is animated by the impulse of giving. Such co-existence implies that gifts and commodities are not mutually exclusive; or indeed that both can be understood, following Parry (1986), as emerging from a highly developed capitalist system

The association between childhood hearing loss and self-reported peer victimisation, depressive symptoms, and self-harm: longitudinal analyses of a prospective, nationally representative cohort study

BACKGROUND: Childhood hearing loss (HL) predicts poor mental health and is associated with a higher risk of communication difficulties. The relationship of childhood HL with specific types of poor mental health (such as depressive symptoms or self-harm) and peer victimisation remains unclear. METHODS: We analysed data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a prospective observational cohort study of children living in the UK at age 9 months and born between 2000 to 2002. Data were available on the children and their families at ages 9 months, then at 3, 5, 7, 11, and 14 years. Participants were 10,858 singleton children with self-reported data on peer victimisation, depressive symptoms, and self-harm at age 14 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate odds ratios (OR) for HL with peer victimisation, depressive symptoms, and self-harm. HL presence was examined in terms of any HL between ages 9 months and 14 years, as well as by HL trajectory type (defined by onset and persistence). Analyses were adjusted for potential sources of confounding, survey design, and attrition at age 14 years. Interactions between sex and HL were examined in each model and multiple imputation procedures used to address missing data. RESULTS: Children with any HL had increased odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09–1.60), self-harm (1.41, 1.12–1.78) and, in girls only, peer victimisation (girls: 1.81, 1.29–2.55; boys: 1.05, 0.73–1.51), compared to those without HL. HL with later age at onset and persistence to age 14 years was the only trajectory associated with all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood HL may predict peer victimisation (in girls), depressive symptoms, and self-harm. Further research is needed to identify HL trajectories and methods to facilitate good mental health in children with HL. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13457-6

Species identity dominates over environment in shaping the microbiota of small mammals

The mammalian gut microbiota is considered pivotal to host fitness, yet the determinants of community composition remain poorly understood. Laboratory studies show that environmental factors, particularly diet, are important, while comparative work emphasises host genetics. Here, we compare the influence of host genetics and the environment on the microbiota of sympatric small mammal species (mice, voles, shrews) across multiple habitats. While sharing a habitat caused some microbiota convergence, the influence of species identity dominated. In all three host genera examined, an individual's microbiota was more similar to conspecifics living elsewhere than to heterospecifics at the same site. Our results suggest this species‐specificity arises in part through host‐microbe codiversification. Stomach contents analysis suggested that diet also shapes the microbiota, but where diet is itself influenced by species identity. In this way, we can reconcile the importance of both diet and genetics, while showing that species identity is the strongest predictor of microbiota composition

1st convention of the Asian Psychological Association, Bali, Indonesia

No abstract supplie

Astronomical identification of CN-, the smallest observed molecular anion

We present the first astronomical detection of a diatomic negative ion, the cyanide anion CN-, as well as quantum mechanical calculations of the excitation of this anion through collisions with para-H2. CN- is identified through the observation of the J = 2-1 and J = 3-2 rotational transitions in the C-star envelope IRC +10216 with the IRAM 30-m telescope. The U-shaped line profiles indicate that CN-, like the large anion C6H-, is formed in the outer regions of the envelope. Chemical and excitation model calculations suggest that this species forms from the reaction of large carbon anions with N atoms, rather than from the radiative attachment of an electron to CN, as is the case for large molecular anions. The unexpectedly large abundance derived for CN-, 0.25 % relative to CN, makes likely its detection in other astronomical sources. A parallel search for the small anion C2H- remains so far unconclusive, despite the previous tentative identification of the J = 1-0 rotational transition. The abundance of C2H- in IRC +10216 is found to be vanishingly small, < 0.0014 % relative to C2H.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in A&A Letter