Integral Field Spectroscopy of a peculiar Supernova Remnant MF16 in NGC6946

We present a study of a peculiar Supernova Remnant MF16, associated with the Ultraluminous X-ray Source (ULX) NGC6946 ULX-1. Observations were taken with the MultiPupil Fiber Spectrograph (MPFS) with 6-m telescope on January 2005. The nebula is found to be highly asymmetric, one of the parts being much denser and colder. The two-component structure of the emission lines and radial velocity gradient argue for a non-spherical nebula, expanding with a velocity of about 100 km/s. Neither shock models nor the X-ray emission can adequately explain the actual emission line spectrum of MF16, so we suggest an additional ultraviolet source with a luminosity of about 10E40 erg/s. We confirm coincidence of the ULX with the central star, and identify radio emission observed by VLA with the most dense part of the nebula.Comment: Proceedings of the ESO and Euro3D Workshop "Science Perspectives for 3D Spectroscopy", Garching (Germany), October 10-14, 2005. M. Kissler-Patig, M.M. Roth and J.R. Walsh (eds.

Phenotypic variability for root traits in Andean common beans grown with and without aluminum stress conditions

Open Access JournalGenetic variation in wild relatives, GenBank accessions, landraces, and cultivars can unlock key alleles for the traits of interest for breeding programs. Breeding programs often utilize different strategies to quantify the source of heritable variation for target traits. One neglected area of study is the root traits of diverse genotypes, and this is especially the case for aluminum toxicity effects on legumes such as the common bean, which is the most used pulse for direct human consumption. This study evaluated 267 genotypes of common bean that were part of the global Andean Diversity Panel (ADP), consisting mainly of genotypes assembled from public and private breeding programs in Africa and North America, as well as elite lines and land races from the USDA. The ADP was evaluated for root traits at the seedling stage in the Tennessee State University (TSU) greenhouse using a hydroponic system with a standard nutrient solution with and without aluminum (Al). The recorded data on the roots per trial were fit to a linear mixed model for the analysis of variance in order to test for the genotype differences. Adjusted means considered replication and blocks within replication as random effects and genotypes as fixed effects. These were then used for Pearson correlation tests and for principal component analysis (PCA), where the first two vectors accounted for 94.5% and 93% of the explained variation under the control and Al-treatment conditions, respectively. Genotypes were clustered based on the morphology of roots in response to Al-toxicity treatment using the Euclidean distance and Ward’s hierarchical agglomerative clustering method, identifying four distinctive groups significant at p < 0.01. The intra-cluster distance was lower than the inter-cluster distances, which indicated a heterogeneous and homogeneous nature between and within clusters, respectively. The results suggest that crossing between accessions from two of the clusters would result in the maximum genetic segregation. One cluster was found to have a higher Al-toxicity tolerance than the others

RoboCon: A general purpose telerobotic control center

This report describes human factors issues involved in the design of RoboCon, a multi-purpose control center for use in US Department of Energy remote handling applications. RoboCon is intended to be a flexible, modular control center capable of supporting a wide variety of robotic devices

Farmers’ common bean variety and seed management in the face of drought and climate instability in southern Ethiopia

This study reports the various elements and contexts that characterize the farmers’ use and management of common bean seed and varieties in southern Ethiopia. The study used focus group discussions, contact-farmer interviews and surveys. The results demonstrate that farmers’ cropping systems and preferences vary strongly. Moreover, the high level of environmental variation and the associated risks of crop failure have increased even more with climate instability. While farmers are aware of climate instability, only about half of them have adapted some cropping practices to better cope with it. Simultaneously, markets offer different opportunities and common bean production expands in areas at slightly higher elevation. In these conditions, common bean production is increasingly important for farmers. They currently manage only modest levels of bean crop diversity. Farmers’ variety and seed management practices do not show a high level of specialization and at the same time the use of off-farm seed sources is relatively high. This situation provides opportunities for strategic development and introduction of common bean genetic diversity. Earlier maturing, more drought-tolerant common bean varieties for a range of conditions, markets and preferences should be developed with an integrated understanding of farmers’ production conditions and existing seed system practices

Protocol: The Lacunar Intervention Trial 2 (LACI-2). A trial of two repurposed licenced drugs to prevent progression of cerebral small vessel disease

BackgroundSmall vessel disease causes a quarter of ischaemic strokes (lacunar subtype), up to 45% of dementia either as vascular or mixed types, cognitive impairment and physical frailty. However, there is no specific treatment to prevent progression of small vessel disease.AimWe designed the LACunar Intervention Trial-2 (LACI-2) to test feasibility of a large trial testing cilostazol and/or isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) by demonstrating adequate participant recruitment and retention in follow-up, drug tolerability, safety and confirm outcome event rates required to power a phase 3 trial.Methods and designLACI-2 is an investigator-initiated, prospective randomised open label blinded endpoint (PROBE) trial aiming to recruit 400 patients with prior lacunar syndrome due to a small subcortical infarct. We randomise participants to cilostazol v no cilostazol and ISMN or no ISMN, minimising on key prognostic factors. All patients receive guideline-based best medical therapy. Patients commence trial drug at low dose, increment to full dose over 2–4 weeks, continuing on full dose for a year. We follow-up participants to one year for symptoms, tablet compliance, safety, recurrent vascular events, cognition and functional outcomes, Trails B and brain MRI. LACI-2 is registered ISRCTN 14911850, EudraCT 2016–002277-35.Trial outcome: Primary outcome is feasibility of recruitment and compliance; secondary outcomes include safety (cerebral or systemic bleeding, falls, death), efficacy (recurrent cerebral and cardiac vascular events, cognition on TICS, Trails B) and tolerability.SummaryLACI-2 will determine feasibility, tolerability and provide outcome rates to power a large phase 3 trial to prevent progression of cerebral small vessel disease

The 3D Structure of N132D in the LMC: A Late-Stage Young Supernova Remnant

We have used the Wide Field Spectrograph (WiFeS) on the 2.3m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory to map the [O III] 5007{\AA} dynamics of the young oxygen-rich supernova remnant N132D in the Large Magellanic Cloud. From the resultant data cube, we have been able to reconstruct the full 3D structure of the system of [O III] filaments. The majority of the ejecta form a ring of ~12pc in diameter inclined at an angle of 25 degrees to the line of sight. We conclude that SNR N132D is approaching the end of the reverse shock phase before entering the fully thermalized Sedov phase of evolution. We speculate that the ring of oxygen-rich material comes from ejecta in the equatorial plane of a bipolar explosion, and that the overall shape of the SNR is strongly influenced by the pre-supernova mass loss from the progenitor star. We find tantalizing evidence of a polar jet associated with a very fast oxygen-rich knot, and clear evidence that the central star has interacted with one or more dense clouds in the surrounding ISM.Comment: Accepted for Publication in Astrophysics & Space Science, 18pp, 8 figure