29 research outputs found
Cow Muscle Profiling: A Comparison of Chemical and Physical Properties of 21 Muscles from Beef and Dairy Cow Carcasses
About 43% of the meat from cow carcasses is sold into the boxed beef trade. This research was conducted to compare muscles from beef and dairy cows in an effort to identify optimal uses for cow muscles. Twenty-one muscles from beef and dairy cow carcasses were analyzed for objective color, total heme-iron, total collagen, pH, expressible moisture and proximate composition. Wide variation was observed for all properties measured. Effects of breed type on all measured traits were minimal except in the case of percent moisture. These results indicate muscles from beef and dairy cows are similar in chemical and physical properties. Opportunities exist to upgrade the value of selected cow muscles
Type II Supernova Light Curves and Spectra From the CfA
We present multiband photometry of 60 spectroscopically-confirmed supernovae
(SN): 39 SN II/IIP, 19 IIn, one IIb and one that was originally classified as a
IIn but later as a Ibn. Forty-six have only optical photometry, six have only
near infrared (NIR) photometry and eight have both optical and NIR. The median
redshift of the sample is 0.016. We also present 192 optical spectra for 47 of
the 60 SN. All data are publicly available. There are 26 optical and two NIR
light curves of SN II/IIP with redshifts z > 0.01, some of which may give rise
to useful distances for cosmological applications. All photometry was obtained
between 2000 and 2011 at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO), via the
1.2m and 1.3m PAIRITEL telescopes for the optical and NIR, respectively. Each
SN was observed in a subset of the bands. There are a total
of 2932 optical and 816 NIR light curve points. Optical spectra were obtained
using the FLWO 1.5m Tillinghast telescope with the FAST spectrograph and the
MMT Telescope with the Blue Channel Spectrograph. Our photometry is in
reasonable agreement with other samples from the literature. Comparison with
Pan-STARRS shows that two-thirds of our individual star sequences have
weighted-mean V offsets within 0.02 mag. In comparing our standard-system
SN light curves with common Carnegie Supernova Project objects using their
color terms, we found that roughly three-quarters have average differences
within 0.04 mag. The data from this work and the literature will provide
insight into SN II explosions, help with developing methods for photometric SN
classification, and contribute to their use as cosmological distance
indicators.Comment: Accepted to ApJS. TAR of light curves and star sequences here:
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/fmalcolm2017/cfa_snII_lightcurvesndstars.june2017.tar
... Spectra can be found here:
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/fmalcolm2017/cfaspec_snII.tar.gz ...
Passbands and plot of spectra can be found here:
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/SNarchive.htm
Minidoka Memorial Hospital Expansion
The Minidoka Memorial Hospital is the main hospital serving Minidoka County. Due to an increase in farming and traffic accidents, the emergency facilities are no longer adequate and require expansion
Optical Spectra of 73 Stripped-Envelope Core-Collapse Supernovae
We present 645 optical spectra of 73 supernovae (SNe) of Types IIb, Ib, Ic,
and broad-lined Ic. All of these types are attributed to the core collapse of
massive stars, with varying degrees of intact H and He envelopes before
explosion. The SNe in our sample have a mean redshift = 4200 km/s. Most of
these spectra were gathered at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(CfA) between 2004 and 2009. For 53 SNe, these are the first published spectra.
The data coverage range from mere identification (1-3 spectra) for a few SNe to
extensive series of observations (10-30 spectra) that trace the spectral
evolution for others, with an average of 9 spectra per SN. For 44 SNe of the 73
SNe presented here, we have well-determined dates of maximum light to determine
the phase of each spectrum. Our sample constitutes the most extensive spectral
library of stripped-envelope SNe to date. We provide very early coverage (as
early as 30 days before V-band max) for photospheric spectra, as well as
late-time nebular coverage when the innermost regions of the SNe are visible
(as late as 2 years after explosion, while for SN1993J, we have data as late as
11.6 years). This data set has homogeneous observations and reductions that
allow us to study the spectroscopic diversity of these classes of stripped SNe
and to compare these to SNe associated with gamma-ray bursts. We undertake
these matters in follow-up papers.Comment: Published by the Astronomical Journal in May 2015. All spectra are
publicly available at the CfA SN archive:
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/SNarchive.html . A companion paper on
constructing SNID templates based on these spectra is by Liu & Modjaz (2014)
and the resulting SNID templates are available from the NYU website:
http://cosmo.nyu.edu/SNYU/spectra
Modified Wet Distillers Grains Finishing Diets May Increase the Levels of Polyunsaturated and Trans Fatty Acids of Beef
Yearling steers (n=268) were fed 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50 % modified wet distillers grains with solubles (MWDGS; DM basis). Marbling attributes, intramuscular fat content and fatty acid profile of beef were analyzed. Treatments did not alter marbling score, marbling distribution or fat content. Slight differences were identified for marbling texture of Choice carcasses. Values of polyunsaturated, Omega 6 and trans fatty acids linearly increased as levels of modified wet distillers grains increased. Feeding this byproduct increases polyunsaturated, trans and Omega 6 fatty acids in beef
Healing built-environment effects on health outcomes: environment–occupant–health framework
An investigation examined the structured scientific evidence on healthcare facilities (the healing built environment – HBE) and its impact on patients’ health outcomes under a holistic conceptual evaluative framework. The integrative review considered 127 papers (of which 59 were review papers). It found there was no adequate framework that could integrate existing research findings holistically. Such a holistic framework needs to demonstrate the cumulative and interactive effects of various HBE characteristics on patients’ health outcomes and wellbeing. An environment–occupant–health (E-O-H) framework is proposed, taking a holistic perspective to identify and evaluate different HBE characteristics. The E-O-H framework should support future research by (1) identifying the HBE characteristics that affect health outcomes; (2) defining appropriate future research designs; and (3) understanding the need for holistic analysis of the integrated effects of diverse HBE characteristics on health outcomes
The Stellar Population of h and chi Persei: Cluster Properties, Membership, and the Intrinsic Colors and Temperatures of Stars
(Abridged) From photometric observations of 47,000 stars and
spectroscopy of 11,000 stars, we describe the first extensive study of
the stellar population of the famous Double Cluster, h and Persei, down
to subsolar masses. Both clusters have E(B-V) 0.52--0.55 and dM =
11.8--11.85; the halo population, while more poorly constrained, likely has
identical properties. As determined from the main sequence turnoff, the
luminosity of M supergiants, and pre-main sequence isochrones, ages for h
Persei, Persei and the halo population all converge on 14 Myr.
From these data, we establish the first spectroscopic and photometric
membership lists of cluster stars down to early/mid M dwarfs. At minimum, there
are 5,000 members within 10' of the cluster centers, while the entire h
and Persei region has at least 13,000 and as many as 20,000
members. The Double Cluster contains 8,400 M of stars
within 10' of the cluster centers. We estimate a total mass of at least 20,000
M. We conclude our study by outlining outstanding questions regarding
the properties of h and Persei. From comparing recent work, we compile a
list of intrinsic colors and derive a new effective temperature scale for O--M
dwarfs, giants, and supergiants.Comment: 88 pages, many figures, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journal Supplements. Contact lead author for version with high-resolution
figure
The Low-Velocity, Rapidly Fading Type Ia Supernova 2002es
SN 2002es is a peculiar subluminous Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) with a
combination of observed characteristics never before seen in a SN Ia. At
maximum light, SN 2002es shares spectroscopic properties with the underluminous
SN 1991bg subclass of SNe Ia, but with substantially lower expansion velocities
(~6000 km/s) more typical of the SN 2002cx subclass. Photometrically, SN 2002es
differs from both SN 1991bg-like and SN 2002cx-like supernovae. Although at
maximum light it is subluminous (M_B=-17.78 mag), SN 2002es has a relatively
broad light curve (Dm15(B)=1.28 +/- 0.04 mag), making it a significant outlier
in the light-curve width vs. luminosity relationship. We estimate a 56Ni mass
of 0.17 +/- 0.05 M_sun synthesized in the explosion, relatively low for a SN
Ia. One month after maximum light, we find an unexpected plummet in the
bolometric luminosity. The late-time decay of the light curves is inconsistent
with our estimated 56Ni mass, indicating that either the light curve was not
completely powered by 56Ni decay or the ejecta became optically thin to
gamma-rays within a month after maximum light. The host galaxy is classified as
an S0 galaxy with little to no star formation, indicating the progenitor of SN
2002es is likely from an old stellar population. We also present a less
extensive dataset for SN 1999bh, an object which shares similar observed
properties. Both objects were found as part of the Lick Observatory Supernova
Search, allowing us to estimate that these objects should account for ~2.5% of
SNe Ia within a fixed volume. We find that current theoretical models are
unable to explain the observed of characteristics of SN 2002es.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, Submitted to Ap
Preterm birth associated with maternal fine particulate matter exposure : A global, regional and national assessment
Reduction of preterm births (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) would substantially reduce neonatal and infant mortality, and deleterious health effects in survivors. Maternal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has been identified as a possible risk factor contributing to preterm birth. The aim of this study was to produce the first estimates of ambient PM2.5-associated preterm births for 183 individual countries and globally. To do this, national, population-weighted, annual average ambient PM2.5 concentration, preterm birth rate and number of livebirths were combined to calculate the number of PM2.5-associated preterm births in 2010 for 183 countries. Uncertainty was quantified using Monte-Carlo simulations, and analyses were undertaken to investigate the sensitivity of PM2.5-associated preterm birth estimates to assumptions about the shape of the concentration-response function at low and high PM2.5 exposures, inclusion of provider-initiated preterm births, and exposure to indoor air pollution. Globally, in 2010, the number of PM2.5-associated preterm births was estimated as 2.7 million (1.8–3.5 million, 18% (12–24%) of total preterm births globally) with a low concentration cut-off (LCC) set at 10 μg m− 3, and 3.4 million (2.4–4.2 million, 23% (16–28%)) with a LCC of 4.3 μg m− 3. South and East Asia, North Africa/Middle East and West sub-Saharan Africa had the largest contribution to the global total, and the largest percentage of preterm births associated with PM2.5. Sensitivity analyses showed that PM2.5-associated preterm birth estimates were 24% lower when provider-initiated preterm births were excluded, 38–51% lower when risk was confined to the PM2.5 exposure range in the studies used to derive the effect estimate, and 56% lower when mothers who live in households that cook with solid fuels (and whose personal PM2.5 exposure is likely dominated by indoor air pollution) were excluded. The concentration-response function applied here derives from a meta-analysis of studies, most of which were conducted in the US and Europe, and its application to the areas of the world where we estimate the greatest effects on preterm births remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the substantial percentage of preterm births estimated to be associated with anthropogenic PM2.5 (18% (13%–24%) of total preterm births globally) indicates that reduction of maternal PM2.5 exposure through emission reduction strategies should be considered alongside mitigation of other risk factors associated with preterm births
CfA3: 185 Type Ia Supernova Light Curves from the CfA
We present multi-band photometry of 185 type-Ia supernovae (SN Ia), with over
11500 observations. These were acquired between 2001 and 2008 at the F. L.
Whipple Observatory of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).
This sample contains the largest number of homogeneously-observed and reduced
nearby SN Ia (z < 0.08) published to date. It more than doubles the nearby
sample, bringing SN Ia cosmology to the point where systematic uncertainties
dominate. Our natural system photometry has a precision of 0.02 mag or better
in BVRIr'i' and roughly 0.04 mag in U for points brighter than 17.5 mag. We
also estimate a systematic uncertainty of 0.03 mag in our SN Ia standard system
BVRIr'i' photometry and 0.07 mag for U. Comparisons of our standard system
photometry with published SN Ia light curves and comparison stars, where
available for the same SN, reveal agreement at the level of a few hundredths
mag in most cases. We find that 1991bg-like SN Ia are sufficiently distinct
from other SN Ia in their color and light-curve-shape/luminosity relation that
they should be treated separately in light-curve/distance fitter training
samples. The CfA3 sample will contribute to the development of better
light-curve/distance fitters, particularly in the few dozen cases where
near-infrared photometry has been obtained and, together, can help disentangle
host-galaxy reddening from intrinsic supernova color, reducing the systematic
uncertainty in SN Ia distances due to dust.Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal. Minor changes from last
version. Light curves, comparison star photometry, and passband tables are
available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/CfA3