Space weather goes to schools

Ciarán D Beggan and Steve R Marple describe how they are using low-cost computers to develop a network of school magnetometers for measuring space-weather effects in the UK

Developing a Raspberry Pi magnetometer for schools in the UK

We describe our efforts to build a magnetic field sensor to be deployed in schools across the United Kingdom, adding to the existing variometer network from AuroraWatch set up by the University of Lancaster (Figure 1). The aim is to encourage students from 14-18 years old to look at how sensors can be used to collect geophysical data and integrate it together to give a wider understanding of physical phenomena. A second aim is to provide useful data on the spatial variation of the magnetic field for analysis of geomagnetic storms, alongside data from the BGS observatory and SAMNET variometer network. The system uses a Raspberry Pi computer as a logging and data transfer device, connected to a set of miniature fluxgate magnetometers. The system has a nominal sensitivity of around 1 nT RMS (~1 part in 50,000) in each component and is relatively low-cost at about £250 per unit. We intend to build 10 systems initially. In this poster we show results from the build and testing of the sensor and examples of recorded horizontal field

All-sky interferometric riometry

The first implementation of a Fourier-based interferometric riometry technique for measuring electron density induced ionospheric opacity at VHF radio frequencies is presented. Unlike multibeam riometers, which form discrete beams on the sky, the interferometric technique permits all-sky sampling of incoming cosmic radio noise emissions resulting in a spatially-continuous radiogram of the entire sky. The map of the received power at each time may then be compared to the equivalent map from a “quiet day”, allowing the morphology of ionospheric absorption of cosmic radio noise to be ascertained. In this work, the high-latitude Kilpisjarvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array (KAIRA) was used to carry out the first interferometric riometry measurements in late 2013, producing all-sky absorption maps of space weather related ionization in the D region

Young Australians navigating the ‘Careers Information Ecology’

The policy orientations of advanced neoliberal democracies situate young people as rational actors who are responsible for their own career outcomes. While career scholars have been critical of how this routinely ignores the unequal effects of structural constraints on personal agency, they have long suggested that young people should have access to the best available ‘roadmaps’ and advice to navigate the uncertainties baked into the contemporary economic landscape. Complementing the significant attention that is given to the (potentially emancipatory) experience of formal careers guidance, we present findings from a multi-method study. We explore young Australians’ (aged 15–24) navigation of careers information through a nationally representative survey (n = 1103), focus groups with 90 participants and an analysis of 15,227 social media comments. We suggest that the variety of formal and informal sources pursued and accessed by young people forms a relational ‘ecology’. This relationality is twofold. First, information is often sequential, and engagements with one source can inform the experience or pursuit of another. Second, navigation of the ecology is marked by a high level of intersubjectivity through interpersonal support networks including peers, family and formal service provision. These insights trouble a widespread, but perhaps simplistic, reading of young people having largely internalised a neoliberal sensibility of ‘entrepreneurial selfhood’ in their active pursuit of a range of career advice. Throughout our analysis, we attend to the ways that engagement in the career information ecology is shaped by social inequalities, further underscoring challenges facing careers guidance and social justice goals

AuroraWatch UK:an automated aurora alert system

The AuroraWatch UK aurora alert service uses a network of magnetometers from across the United Kingdom to measure the disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field caused by the aurora borealis (northern lights). The service has been measuring disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field from the UK and issuing auroral visibility alerts to its subscribers, since September 2000. These alerts have four levels, corresponding to the magnitude of disturbance measured, which indicate from where in the UK an auroral display might be seen. In the following, we describe the AuroraWatch UK system in detail and reprocess the historical magnetometer data using the current alert algorithm to compile an activity database. This data set is composed of over 150,000h (99.94% data availability) of magnetic disturbance measurements, including nearly 9,000h of enhanced geomagnetic activity. Plain Language Summary Witnessing the aurora borealis, more commonly known as the northern lights, is a much desired event, often featuring in people's "bucket lists." Although rarer than in more arctic regions, such as Scandinavia, Iceland, and Canada, the northern lights are seen from the UK too. To help with this aurora-hunting endeavor, the AuroraWatch UK service sends alerts to its followers when UK aurora sightings may be possible. The service has been running for 17 years and has over 100,000 subscribers. We have recorded over 150,000 h of magnetic field measurements including nearly 9,000 h where geomagnetic activity was large enough for an aurora to potentially be seen from at least some parts of the UK

Ethnic and social inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes in Scotland:protocol for early pandemic evaluation and enhanced surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II)

Introduction: Evidence from previous pandemics, and the current COVID-19 pandemic, has found that risk of infection/severity of disease is disproportionately higher for ethnic minority groups, and those in lower socioeconomic positions. It is imperative that interventions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are targeted towards high-risk populations. We will investigate the associations between social characteristics (such as ethnicity, occupation and socioeconomic position) and COVID-19 outcomes and the extent to which characteristics/risk factors might explain observed relationships in Scotland. The primary objective of this study is to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 by social factors. Secondary objectives are to (1) examine receipt of treatment and prevention of COVID-19 by social factors; (2) quantify ethnic/social differences in adverse COVID-19 outcomes; (3) explore potential mediators of relationships between social factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 prognosis; (4) examine whether occupational COVID-19 differences differ by other social factors and (5) assess quality of ethnicity coding within National Health Service datasets. Methods and analysis: We will use a national cohort comprising the adult population of Scotland who completed the 2011 Census and were living in Scotland on 31 March 2020 (~4.3 million people). Census data will be linked to the Early Assessment of Vaccine and Anti-Viral Effectiveness II cohort consisting of primary/secondary care, laboratory data and death records. Sensitivity/specificity and positive/negative predictive values will be used to assess coding quality of ethnicity. Descriptive statistics will be used to examine differences in treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Poisson/Cox regression analyses and mediation techniques will examine ethnic and social differences, and drivers of inequalities in COVID-19. Effect modification (on additive and multiplicative scales) between key variables (such as ethnicity and occupation) will be assessed. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was obtained from the National Research Ethics Committee, South East Scotland 02. We will present findings of this study at international conferences, in peer-reviewed journals and to policy-makers

Combined exercise and visual gaze training improves stepping accuracy in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)Introduction: Patients with diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) place their feet with less accuracy whilst walking, which may contribute to the increased falls-risk. This study examines the effects of a multi-faceted intervention on stepping accuracy, in patients with diabetes and DPN. Methods: Forty participants began the study, of which 29 completed both the pre and post-intervention tests, 8 patients with DPN, 11 patients with diabetes but no neuropathy (D) and 10 healthy controls (C). Accuracy of stepping was measured pre- and post-intervention as participants walked along an irregularly arranged stepping walkway. Participants attended a one-hour session, once a week, for sixteen weeks, involving high-load resistance exercise and visual-motor training. Results: Patients who took part in the intervention improved stepping accuracy (DPN: +45%; D: +36%) (p < 0.05). The diabetic non-intervention (D-NI) group did not display any significant differences in stepping accuracy pre- to post- the intervention period (−7%). Discussion: The improved stepping accuracy observed in patients with diabetes and DPN as a result of this novel intervention, may contribute towards reducing falls-risk. This multi-faceted intervention presents promise for improving the general mobility and safety of patients during walking and could be considered for inclusion as part of clinical treatment programmes.This work was supported by a Clinical Research Grant from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD).Peer Reviewe