5,792 research outputs found
The Multitude of Molecular Hydrogen Knots in the Helix Nebula
We present HST/NICMOS imaging of the H_2 2.12 \mu m emission in 5 fields in
the Helix Nebula ranging in radial distance from 250-450" from the central
star. The images reveal arcuate structures with their apexes pointing towards
the central star. Comparison of these images with comparable resolution ground
based images reveals that the molecular gas is more highly clumped than the
ionized gas line tracers. From our images, we determine an average number
density of knots in the molecular gas ranging from 162 knots/arcmin^2 in the
denser regions to 18 knots/arcmin^2 in the lower density outer regions. Using
this new number density, we estimate that the total number of knots in the
Helix to be ~23,000 which is a factor of 6.5 larger than previous estimates.
The total neutral gas mass in the Helix is 0.35 M_\odot assuming a mass of
\~1.5x10^{-5} M_\odot for the individual knots. The H_2 intensity, 5-9x10^{-5}
erg s^{-1} cm^{-2} sr^{-1}, remains relatively constant with projected distance
from the central star suggesting a heating mechanism for the molecular gas that
is distributed almost uniformly in the knots throughout the nebula. The
temperature and H_2 2.12 \mu m intensity of the knots can be approximately
explained by photodissociation regions (PDRs) in the individual knots; however,
theoretical PDR models of PN under-predict the intensities of some knots by a
factor of 10.Comment: 26 pages, 3 tables, 10 figures; AJ accepte
The XO Planetary Survey Project - Astrophysical False Positives
Searches for planetary transits find many astrophysical false positives as a
by-product. There are four main types analyzed in the literature: a
grazing-incidence eclipsing binary star, an eclipsing binary star with a small
radius companion star, a blend of one or more stars with an unrelated eclipsing
binary star, and a physical triple star system. We present a list of 69
astrophysical false positives that had been identified as candidates of
transiting planets of the on-going XO survey. This list may be useful in order
to avoid redundant observation and characterization of these particular
candidates independently identified by other wide-field searches for transiting
planets. The list may be useful for those modeling the yield of the XO survey
and surveys similar to it. Subsequent observations of some of the listed stars
may improve mass-radius relations, especially for low-mass stars. From the
candidates exhibiting eclipses, we report three new spectroscopic double-line
binaries and give mass function estimations for 15 single lined spectroscopic
binaries.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, accepted to ApJ
Unraveling the Helix Nebula: Its Structure and Knots
Through HST imaging of the inner part of the main-ring of the Helix Nebula
together with CTIO 4-m images of the fainter outer parts, we have an
unprecedented-quality view of the nearest bright planetary nebula. These images
have allowed determination that the main-ring of the nebula is composed of an
inner-disk of about 499\arcsec diameter (0.52 pc) surrounded by an outer-ring
(in reality a torus) of 742\arcsec diameter (0.77 pc) whose plane is highly
inclined to the plane of the disk. This outer-ring is surrounded by an
outermost-ring of 1500\arcsec (1.76 pc) diameter which is flattened on the side
colliding with the ambient interstellar medium. The inner-disk has an extended
distribution of low density gas along its rotational axis of symmetry and the
disk is optically thick to ionizing radiation, as is the outer-ring.
Published radial velocities of the knots provides support for the
two-component structure of the main-ring of the nebula and to the idea that the
knots found there are expanding along with the nebular material from which it
recently originated. There is a change in the morphology of the knots as a
function of the distance from the local ionization front. This supports a
scenario in which the knots are formed in or near the ionization front and are
then sculpted by the stellar radiation from the central star as the ionization
front advances beyond them.Comment: 30 pages, 20 figures, many figures have reduce fidelity for astroph
preprint. Note: URLs in preprint were change
Teaching Professional Formation in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of American Medical Colleges has called for a temporary suspension of clinical teaching activities for medical students. Planning for the continued involvement of learners in patient care during this pandemic should include teaching learners professional formation. The authors provide an ethical framework to guide such teaching, based on the ethical principle of beneficence and the professional virtues of courage and self-sacrifice from professional ethics in medicine. The authors show that these concepts support the conclusion that learners are ethically obligated to accept reasonable, but not unreasonable, risk. Based on this ethical framework, the authors provide an account of the process of teaching professional formation that medical educators and academic leaders should implement. Medical educators and academic leaders should embrace the opportunity that the COVID-19 pandemic presents for teaching professional formation. Learners should acquire the conceptual vocabulary of professional formation. Learners should recognize that risk of infection from patients is unavoidable. Learners should become aware of established ethical standards for professional responsibility during epidemics from the history of medicine. Learners should master understandable fear. Medical educators and academic leaders should ensure that didactic teaching of professional formation continues when it becomes justified to end learners\u27 participation in the processes of patient care; topics should include the professionally responsible management of scarce medical resources. The COVID-19 pandemic will not be the last major infectious disease that puts learners at risk. Professional ethics in medicine provides powerful conceptual tools that can be used as an ethical framework to guide medical educators to teach learners, who will bear leadership responsibilities in responses to future pandemics, professional formation
Ethical Dimensions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection During Pregnancy
Physicians encounter complex and sensitive ethical challenges in the medical care of pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This paper identifies those ethical challenges and provides concrete clinical guidance for how they should be addressed in obstetric care. The paper begins with a brief historical review, to highlight and to call into question the civil rights model of the ethics of HIV infection that has dominated the literature, clinical practice, and public policy. The authors propose an alternative ethical framework. This framework begins by underscoring the public health obligations of both physicians and pregnant women with HIV infection. The framework is based on a clinical ethics that appeals to both beneficence-based and
autonomy-based obligations of the physician to the pregnant woman and the beneficence-based
obligations of both the physician and the pregnant woman to the fetal patient. This framework is
then deployed in a clinical ethical analysis of termination of pregnancy and contraception, partner
notification, disclosure and confidentiality of her serostatus by the patient to the health care team,
disclosure and confidentiality of her serostatus to other health care professionals, prevention of
vertical transmission, and advance directives
Failure of vaccination to prevent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease
Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease persist in dairy cattle herds in Saudi Arabia despite revaccination at intervals of 4-6 months. Vaccine trials provide data on antibody responses following vaccination. Using this information we developed a mathematical model of the decay of protective antibodies with which we estimated the fraction of susceptible animals at a given time after vaccination. The model describes the data well, suggesting over 95% take with an antibody half-life of 43 days. Farm records provided data on the time course of five outbreaks. We applied a 'SLIR' epidemiological model to these data, fitting a single parameter representing disease transmission rate. The analysis provides estimates of the basic reproduction number R(0), which may exceed 70 in some cases. We conclude that the critical intervaccination interval which would provide herd immunity against FMDV is unrealistically short, especially for heterologous challenge. We suggest that it may not be possible to prevent foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on these farms using currently available vaccines
Setting goals and choosing appropriate reference sites for restoring mine pit lakes as aquatic ecosystems: Case study from south west Australia
Pit lakes may form when open cut mining leaves a pit void behind that fills with ground and surface water. Often replacing terrestrial ecosystems that existed prior to mining, the pit lake may offer an alternative ecosystem with aquatic biodiversity values that can be realised through planned restoration. Restoration theory and mine closure regulatory requirements guides us toward restoring disturbed systems towards landscapes that are of regional value and relevance. However, how do we identify a restoration target for a novel aquatic habitat that did not exist prior to the new post-mining landscape? This paper presents a process of first identifying and then surveying local analogue aquatic systems to provide a direction for pit lake restoration efforts and achievement criteria for pit lake relinquishment. We illustrate this process using a case study from a sand mining operation located amongst wetlands in south western Australia. The company mines silica sands following mechanical removal of topsoil and then extraction of the ore from below the water table by dredging. Assessment of wetland and riparian vegetation in the surrounding area was completed through the establishment and measurement of temporary monitoring transects across five natural wetlands in the Kemerton area with several more visited and observations made. Distinct zonation of vegetation was found across each wetland, although typically wetland basins were unvegetated or filled with younger woody plants with patchy distributions. Fringing riparian vegetation consisted of few species (commonly Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Lepidosperma longitudinale) but community composition and structure were variable between wetlands. The pattern of vegetation seen across natural wetlands was best explained by topography and soil chemistry with low lying areas more likely to experience regular flooding and accumulate organic matter and nutrients. We consider that, with good planning, rehabilitation, monitoring and management interventions to achieve a restoration trajectory, these new mining pit lakes can positively contribute to regional ecological values
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