Towards a better understanding of ice mantle desorption by cosmic rays

The standard model of cosmic ray heating-induced desorption of interstellar ices is based on a continuous representation of the sporadic desorption of ice mantle components from classical (0.1μm) dust grains. This has been re-evaluated and developed to include tracking the desorption through (extended) grain cooling profiles, consideration of grain size-dependencies and constraints to the efficiencies. A model was then constructed to study the true, sporadic, nature of the process with possible allowances from species co-desorption and whole mantle desorption from very small grains. The key results from the study are that the desorption rates are highly uncertain, but almost certainly significantly larger than have been previously determined. For typical interstellar grain size distributions it is found that the desorption is dominated by the contributions from the smallest grains. The sporadic desorption model shows that, if the interval between cosmic ray impacts is comparable to, or less than, the freeze-out time-scale, the continuous representation is inapplicable; chemical changes may occur on very long time-scales, resulting in strong gas phase chemical enrichments that have very non-linear dependences on the cosmic ray flux. The inclusion of even limited levels of species co-desorption and/or the contribution from very small grains further enhances the rates, especially for species such as H2O. In general, we find that cosmic ray heating is the dominant desorption mechanism in dark environments. These results may have important chemical implications for protostellar and protoplanetary environments

Seven lessons from manyfield inflation in random potentials

We study inflation in models with many interacting fields subject to randomly generated scalar potentials. We use methods from non-equilibrium random matrix theory to construct the potentials and an adaption of the ‘transport method’ to evolve the two-point correlators during inflation. This construction allows, for the first time, for an explicit study of models with up to 100 interacting fields supporting a period of ‘approximately saddle-point’ inflation. We determine the statistical predictions for observables by generating over 30,000 models with 2–100 fields supporting at least 60 efolds of inflation. These studies lead us to seven lessons: i) Manyfield inflation is not single-field inflation, ii) The larger the number of fields, the simpler and sharper the predictions, iii) Planck compatibility is not rare, but future experiments may rule out this class of models, iv) The smoother the potentials, the sharper the predictions, v) Hyperparameters can transition from stiff to sloppy, vi) Despite tachyons, isocurvature can decay, vii) Eigenvalue repulsion drives the predictions. We conclude that many of the ‘generic predictions’ of single-field inflation can be emergent features of complex inflation models

On the dual motivational force of legitimate authority

In this chapter I consider two ways by which the legitimacy of legal authorities might motivate people to abide by the law. Following recent criminological research I define legitimacy along two different dimensions: the first is the public recognition of the rightful authority of an institution, and the second is a sense among citizens that the institution is just, moral and appropriate. Data from a randomized controlled trial of procedurally just policing provide further support for the idea that justice systems can secure compliance by (a) instilling in citizens a sense of deference and obligation, and (b) showing to citizens that they represent a requisite sense of moral appropriateness. While prior work has tended to focus on the idea that legitimacy shape compliance through felt obligation, the current analysis shows that compliance is predicted by both duty to obey and moral endorsement. Consistent with a good deal of existing evidence, the findings also indicate the importance of procedural justice and group identification in the production of institutional legitimacy. I conclude with the idea that legitimacy may be able to shape compliance through shape content-free obligation and shared moral appropriateness

IVOA Recommendation: An IVOA Standard for Unified Content Descriptors Version 1.1

This document describes the current understanding of the IVOA controlled vocabulary for describing astronomical data quantities, called Unified Content Descriptors (UCDs). The present document defines a new standard (named UCD1+) improving the first generation of UCDs (hereafter UCD1). The basic idea is to adopt a new syntax and vocabulary requiring little effort for people to adapt softwares already using UCD1. This document also addresses the questions of maintenance and evolution of the UCD1+. Examples of use cases within the VO, and tools for using UCD1+ are also described

IVOA Recommendation: The UCD1+ controlled vocabulary Version 1.23

This document describes the list of controlled terms used to build the Unified Content Descriptors, Version 1+ (UCD1+). The document describing the UCD1+ can be found at the URL: http://www.ivoa.net/Documents/latest/UCD.html. This document reviews the structure of the UCD1+ and presents the current vocabulary

A20 deficiency in lung epithelial cells protects against influenza A virus infection

A20 negatively regulates multiple inflammatory signalling pathways. We here addressed the role of A20 in club cells (also known as Clara cells) of the bronchial epithelium in their response to influenza A virus infection. Club cells provide a niche for influenza virus replication, but little is known about the functions of these cells in antiviral immunity. Using airway epithelial cell-specific A20 knockout (A20(AEC-KO)) mice, we show that A20 in club cells critically controls innate immune responses upon TNF or double stranded RNA stimulation. Surprisingly, A20(AEC-KO) mice are better protected against influenza A virus challenge than their wild type littermates. This phenotype is not due to decreased viral replication. Instead host innate and adaptive immune responses and lung damage are reduced in A20(AEC-KO) mice. These attenuated responses correlate with a dampened cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response at later stages during infection, indicating that A20(AEC-KO) mice are better equipped to tolerate Influenza A virus infection. Expression of the chemokine CCL2 (also named MCP-1) is particularly suppressed in the lungs of A20(AEC-KO) mice during later stages of infection. When A20(AEC-KO) mice were treated with recombinant CCL2 the protective effect was abrogated demonstrating the crucial contribution of this chemokine to the protection of A20(AEC-KO) mice to Influenza A virus infection. Taken together, we propose a mechanism of action by which A20 expression in club cells controls inflammation and antiviral CTL responses in response to influenza virus infection

Alterations in Team Physical Performance and Possession in Elite Gaelic Football Competition

Differences in performance between winning and losing were examined in 1 elite Gaelic football team in 20 games across 2 complete competitive seasons. Possession was codified using Dartfish TeamPro software and distance covered; walking, jogging, running, and running at high and maximum speeds, was evaluated using Catapult Optimeye S5 player tracking devices. Distance covered in low intensity activity (LIA, ˂4.0 m.s-1 ), high intensity running (HIR, ≥4.0 m·s-1 ) and very high intensity running (VHIR, ≥5.5 m·s-1 ) was also examined along with PlayerLoad™, which represented a composite of all accelerations. Data from 53 players (n=405 files) was collated into specific match periods to facilitate a temporal analysis between the first and second halves and from quarter 1 (Q1) to quarter 4 (Q4), with significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05. Total distance and running was higher in games lost, whereas total distance, walking and LIA was higher in halves lost. Only walking was higher in quarters lost. The percentage of possession declined in halves and quarters lost. In games lost, high speed running declined in the second half. From Q1 to Q4; PlayerLoad™, total distance, jogging, high speed running, HIR and VHIR, decreased in all games combined and in games lost. Possession frequency declined in Q4 in all games and in games won. Overall, total distance was higher in games lost and physical performance declines were more pronounced when examined by match quarter compared to half and were only apparent in games lost. Similarly, reductions in possession frequency and percentage were more evident when examined by quarter or period lost, respectively. These findings can inform the prescription of conditioning and field-training strategies to mitigate the reductions in performance observed in losing and towards the end of games

Development and psychometric testing of the clinical leadership needs analysis (CLeeNA) instrument for nurses and midwives

Aim: The aim of this study is to report the development and psychometric testing of the clinical leadership needs analysis instrument (CLeeNA). Background: Limited emphasis is placed on the clinical leadership needs of nurses and midwives that are fundamental to supporting the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. Methods: A development and validation study of CLeeNA was undertaken using cross-sectional data. A sample of 324 registered nurses and midwives completed the questionnaire using a 7-point adjectival scale. Principal component analysis was conducted to explore scale grouping of items (n = 103 items). Results: Principal component analysis, item reduction and parallel analysis on the items of the instrument resulted in seven factors consisting of 56 items. These factors were identified as: Staff and Care Delivery; Technology and Care Initiatives; Self and Team Development; Standards of Care; Financial and Service Management; Leadership and Clinical Practice; Patient Safety and Risk Management. Conclusion: The identified factors are reflective of an ever-changing health care environment. Implications for Nursing Management: Potentially, after further testing, this instrument could be used by nursing management and educators to measure clinical leadership needs, inform the design of clinical leadership training programmes and provide valuable information about health care leadership development