The Darkest Shadows: Deep Mid-Infrared Extinction Mapping of a Massive Protocluster

We use deep $8\:\mu m$ Spitzer-IRAC imaging of a massive Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G028.37+00.07 to construct a Mid-Infrared (MIR) extinction map that probes mass surface densities up to $\Sigma\:\sim 1\:\rm{g~cm^{-2}}$ ($A_V\sim200\:$mag), amongst the highest values yet probed by extinction mapping. Merging with a NIR extinction map of the region, creates a high dynamic range map that reveals structures down to $A_V\sim1\:$mag. We utilize the map to: (1) Measure a cloud mass $\sim7\times10^4\:M_\odot$ within a radius of $\sim8\:$pc. $^{13}$CO kinematics indicate that the cloud is gravitationally bound. It thus has the potential to form one of the most massive young star clusters known in the Galaxy. (2) Characterize the structures of 16 massive cores within the IRDC, finding they can be fit by singular polytropic spheres with $\rho\propto{r}^{-k_\rho}$ and $k_\rho=1.3\pm0.3$. They have $\overline{\Sigma}\simeq0.1-0.4\:\rm{g~cm^{-2}}$ --- relatively low values that, along with their measured cold temperatures, suggest magnetic fields, rather than accretion-powered radiative heating, are important for controlling fragmentation of these cores. (3) Determine the $\Sigma$ (equivalently column density or $A_V$) probability distribution function (PDF) for a region that is near complete for $A_V>3\:$mag. The PDF is well fit by a single log-normal with mean $\overline{A}_V\simeq9\:$mag, high compared to other known clouds. It does not exhibit a separate high-end power law tail, which has been claimed to indicate the importance of self-gravity. However, we suggest that the PDF does result from a self-similar, self-gravitating hierarchy of structure being present over a wide range of scales in the cloud.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted to ApJ

The Second NASA Formal Methods Workshop 1992

The primary goal of the workshop was to bring together formal methods researchers and aerospace industry engineers to investigate new opportunities for applying formal methods to aerospace problems. The first part of the workshop was tutorial in nature. The second part of the workshop explored the potential of formal methods to address current aerospace design and verification problems. The third part of the workshop involved on-line demonstrations of state-of-the-art formal verification tools. Also, a detailed survey was filled in by the attendees; the results of the survey are compiled

Zooming in to Massive Star Birth

We present high resolution (0.2", 1000 AU) 1.3 mm ALMA observations of massive infrared dark cloud clump, G028.37+00.07-C1, thought to harbor the early stages of massive star formation. Using $\rm N_2D^+$(3-2) we resolve the previously identified C1-S core, separating the bulk of its emission from two nearby protostellar sources. C1-S is thus identified as a massive ($\sim50\:M_\odot$), compact ($\sim0.1\:$pc diameter) starless core, e.g., with no signs of outflow activity. Being highly deuterated, this is a promising candidate for a pre-stellar core on the verge of collapse. An analysis of its dynamical state indicates a sub-virial velocity dispersion compared to a trans-Alfv\'enic turbulent core model. However, virial equilibrium could be achieved with sub-Alfv\'enic conditions involving $\sim2\:$mG magnetic field strengths.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables, accepted by Ap

Antenatal group consultations: Promoting wellbeing

Background: Most healthcare encounters take place in a dyadic encounter between a patient and healthcare practitioner, and improving dyadic communication has been the object of much health communication research. However, it seems that an alternative to the dyadic encounter – group consultations – may have distinct advantages for the promotion of patients’ wellbeing. Aim: This article focuses on antenatal group consultations (AGCs), where groups of pregnant women meet with one or more healthcare practitioners instead of meeting their midwife individually, and explores how the presence of other pregnant women in AGCs may promote wellbeing. Methods: Adopting a post-intentional phenomenological approach, we analysed the transcripts of 16 semi-structured interviews undertaken with pregnant women who attended AGCs in Denmark, focusing on their accounts of being with each other. Results: The presence of other pregnant women helped to generate trust, with the participants’ pregnant bodies symbolising their common situation. The presence of peers prompted feelings of identification and solidarity, generally decreased the women’s concerns, and normalised their experiences of pregnancy. Discussion and conclusion: This article develops understandings of how patients experience interpersonal healthcare encounters, and suggests the value of alternatives to the clinical dyad, such as group consultations, for promoting the wellbeing of other patient groups

Quenching Effects in the Hadron Spectrum

Lattice QCD has generated a wealth of data in hadronic physics over the last two decades. Until relatively recently, most of this information has been within the "quenched approximation" where virtual quark--anti-quark pairs are neglected. This review presents a descriptive discussion of the effects of removing this approximation in the calculation of hadronic masses.Comment: To appear in "Lattice Hadron Physics", ed. A.C. Kalloniatis, D.B. Leinweber and A.G. William

A comprehensive lattice study of SU(3) glueballs

We present a study of the $SU(3)$ glueball spectrum for all $J^{PC}$ values at lattice spacings down to $a^{-1}=3.73 (6)$ GeV ($\beta=6.4$) using lattices of size up to $32^4$. We extend previous studies and show that the continuum limit has effectively been reached. The number of clearly identified $J^{PC}$ states has been substantially increased. There are no clear signals for spin-exotic glueballs below 3 GeV. A comparison with current experimental glueball candidates is made.Comment: 10 pages including 2 PS figures, Liverpool Preprint: LTH 303, Wuppertal Preprint: WUB 93-1

A Virialized Filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud

The initial conditions of massive star and star cluster formation are expected to be cold, dense and high column density regions of the interstellar medium, which can reveal themselves via near, mid and even far-infrared absorption as Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs). Elucidating the dynamical state of IRDCs thus constrains theoretical models of these complex processes. In particular, it is important to assess whether IRDCs have reached virial equilibrium, where the internal pressure balances that due to the self-gravitating weight of the cloud plus the pressure of the external environmental. We study this question for the filamentary IRDC G035.39-00.33 by deriving mass from combined NIR & MIR extinction maps and velocity dispersion from C18O (1-0) & (2-1) line emission. In contrast to our previous moderately super-virial results based on 13CO emission and MIR-only extinction mapping, with improved mass measurements we now find that the filament is consistent with being in virial equilibrium, at least in its central parsec-wide region where ~1000 M_Sun snakes along several parsecs. This equilibrium state does not require large-scale net support or confinement by magnetic fields.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Accepted to ApJ

Leadership Effectiveness in International School Contexts: A Synthetic Mapping of Emergent Literature

Further research is necessary in the emerging field of international school leadership. To illuminate how is effective international school leadership conceived in the emergent academic literature, a synthetic mapping was conducted. Six key elements were identified and were used to select and analyze a set of twenty-two key articles from the current literature. Elements were extracted from each article and then compared to produce the synthetic mapping. Despite the wide range of types of international schools and geographical contexts, there are several key challenges and features of leadership effectiveness found in the literature, including the following: the effects of turn-over; perception, power and influences; cultural intelligence; how leadership effectiveness is presented; use of frameworks; a common language around learning; the principal’s role; and profit vs. education. These findings provide school leaders and researchers with a current synopsis of leadership effectiveness in international schools