The Impact of Phase Equilibrium Cloud Models on GCM Simulations of GJ~1214b

We investigate the impact of clouds on the atmosphere of GJ~1214b using the radiatively-coupled, phase-equilibrium cloud model {\sc EddySed} coupled to the {\sc Unified Model} general circulation model. We find that, consistent with previous investigations, high metallicity ($100\times$ solar) and clouds with large vertical extents (a sedimentation factor of $f_\mathrm{sed} = 0.1$) are required to best match the observations, although metallicities even higher than those investigated here may be required to improve agreement further. We additionally find that in our case which best matches the observations ($f_\mathrm{sed}=0.1$), the velocity structures change relative to the clear sky case with the formation of a superrotating jet being suppressed, although further investigation is required to understand the cause of the suppression. The increase in cloud extent with $f_\mathrm{sed}$ results in a cooler planet due to a higher albedo, causing the atmosphere to contract. This also results in a reduced day-night contrast seen in the phase curves, although the introduction of cloud still results in a reduction of the phase offset. We additionally investigate the impact the the {\sc Unified Model}'s pseudo-spherical irradiation scheme on the calculation of heating rates, finding that the introduction of nightside shortwave heating results in slower mid-latitude jets compared to the plane parallel irradiation scheme used in previous works. We also consider the impact of a gamma distribution, as opposed to a log-normal distribution, for the distribution of cloud particle radii and find the impact to be relatively minor.Comment: Accepted to MNRA

Airway CD8+CD8^+ T Cells Induced by Pulmonary DNA Immunization Mediate Protective Anti-Viral Immunity

Vaccination strategies for protection against a number of respiratory pathogens must induce T-cell populations in both the pulmonary airways and peripheral lymphoid organs. In this study, we show that pulmonary immunization using plasmid DNA formulated with the polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI-DNA) induced antigen-specific $CD8^+$ T cells in the airways that persisted long after antigen local clearance. The persistence of the cells was not mediated by local lymphocyte proliferation or persistent antigen presentation within the lung or airways. These vaccine-induced $CD8^+$ T cells effectively mediated protective immunity against respiratory challenges with vaccinia virus and influenza virus. Moreover, this protection was not dependent upon the recruitment of T cells from peripheral sites. These findings demonstrate that pulmonary immunization with PEI-DNA is an efficient approach for inducing robust pulmonary $CD8^+$ T-cell populations that are effective at protecting against respiratory pathogens

(1,0) superconformal theories in six dimensions and Killing spinor equations

We solve the Killing spinor equations of 6-dimensional (1,0) superconformal theories in all cases. In particular, we derive the conditions on the fields imposed by the Killing spinor equations and demonstrate that these depend on the isotropy group of the Killing spinors. We focus on the models proposed by Samtleben et al in \cite{ssw} and find that there are solutions preserving 1,2, 4 and 8 supersymmetries. We also explore the solutions which preserve 4 supersymmetries and find that many models admit string and 3-brane solitons as expected from the M-brane intersection rules. The string solitons are smooth regulated by the moduli of instanton configurations.Comment: 26 page

Pots, plants and animals:broad-spectrum subsistence strategies in the Early Neolithic of the Moroccan Rif region

The transition from hunter-gathering to food-producing societies in the Mediterranean zone of north Africa was complex and variable, likely influenced by local ecological conditions as well as the socio-economic origins of the population. The adoption of domestic plants and animals was piecemeal, with hunting and gathering continuing as an important part of local subsistence strategies. Here, we investigate the timing and extent of the adoption of agricultural practices, namely herding and cultivation, in three diverse coastal and inland Early Neolithic sites in the Mediterranean Maghreb region, namely Ifri Oudadane, Ifri n’Etsedda and Hassi Ouenzga. Results from absorbed lipid residues extracted from 306 potsherds from these sites are correlated with information from faunal and archaeobotanical assemblages. Our findings suggest that agricultural practices, regarded as being of Neolithic origin, were never fully adopted in the Maghreb but rather that these farmer/foragers adopted a range of strategies including low-level food production (exploiting cereals and animal products, including meat and milk), gathering of wild plants and marine shellfish, and hunting both small and large sized game. These broad-spectrum farmer/foragers were clearly both flexible and resourceful and likely adapted their subsistence practices to maximise resource availability in an increasingly unpredictable environment

Experiences of peer workers and mental health service users with a peer support intervention: applying and critiquing a behaviour change techniques taxonomy

Objective: There is growing evidence for the benefits of peer support in mental health services. Less is known about the specific mechanisms whereby peer support brings about change. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of adults using mental health services and peer workers to investigate whether the contents of an intentionally provided one-to-one peer support intervention can be adequately described using a standard taxonomy of behaviour change techniques (BCTs). Method: This qualitative comparative case study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 peer workers and 10 people they supported, in 2017–2018. They participated in a randomised controlled trial of a peer support intervention. Data were coded using both an analytical framework, derived from Michie and colleague’s taxonomy of BCTs, and inductive thematic analysis. Results: The findings revealed that the intervention included BCTs from all 16 BCT groupings in the taxonomy, with the emphasis on the groupings of ‘social support’, ‘comparison of behaviour’, ‘comparison of outcomes’, ‘regulation’ ‘shaping knowledge’, ‘identity’ and ‘covert learning’. Thematic analysis revealed a new group, ‘relational aspects’, consisting of five new BCTs: sharing of the peer worker’s experiential knowledge; promoting reciprocity, autonomy, and confidentiality; and validation of a safe and trusting relationship. Discussion: A standard taxonomy of BCTs was shown to be broadly applicable to describing the contents of an intentional one-to-one peer support intervention for adults using mental health services. The taxonomy may need to be extended to consider additional BCTs related to encouraging the therapeutic relationship

PAMELA Measurements of Cosmic-ray Proton and Helium Spectra

Protons and helium nuclei are the most abundant components of the cosmic radiation. Precise measurements of their fluxes are needed to understand the acceleration and subsequent propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. We report precision measurements of the proton and helium spectra in the rigidity range 1 GV-1.2 TV performed by the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA. We find that the spectral shapes of these two species are different and cannot be well described by a single power law. These data challenge the current paradigm of cosmic-ray acceleration in supernova remnants followed by diffusive propagation in the Galaxy. More complex processes of acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays are required to explain the spectral structures observed in our data.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, link to SOM (with tables) in the references. This manuscript has been accepted for publication in Science. This version has not undergone final editing. Please refer to the complete version of record at http://www.sciencemag.org/ [www.sciencemag.org

The mechanisms and processes of connection: developing a causal chain model capturing impacts of receiving recorded mental health recovery narratives.

BACKGROUND: Mental health recovery narratives are a core component of recovery-oriented interventions such as peer support and anti-stigma campaigns. A substantial number of recorded recovery narratives are now publicly available online in different modalities and in published books. Whilst the benefits of telling one's story have been investigated, much less is known about how recorded narratives of differing modalities impact on recipients. A previous qualitative study identified connection to the narrator and/or to events in the narrative to be a core mechanism of change. The factors that influence how individuals connect with a recorded narrative are unknown. The aim of the current study was to characterise the immediate effects of receiving recovery narratives presented in a range of modalities (text, video and audio), by establishing the mechanisms of connection and the processes by which connection leads to outcomes. METHOD: A study involving 40 mental health service users in England was conducted. Participants were presented with up to 10 randomly-selected recovery narratives and were interviewed on the immediate impact of each narrative. Thematic analysis was used to identify the mechanisms of connection and how connection leads to outcome. RESULTS: Receiving a recovery narrative led participants to reflect upon their own experiences or those of others, which then led to connection through three mechanisms: comparing oneself with the narrative and narrator; learning about other's experiences; and experiencing empathy. These mechanisms led to outcomes through three processes: the identification of change (through attending to narrative structure); the interpretation of change (through attending to narrative content); and the internalisation of interpretations. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to identify mechanisms and processes of connection with recorded recovery narratives. The empirically-based causal chain model developed in this study describes the immediate effects on recipients. This model can inform selection of narratives for use in interventions, and be used to support peer support workers in recounting their own recovery narratives in ways which are maximally beneficial to others

The cosmic-ray electron flux measured by the PAMELA experiment between 1 and 625 GeV

Precision measurements of the electron component in the cosmic radiation provide important information about the origin and propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Here we present new results regarding negatively charged electrons between 1 and 625 GeV performed by the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA. This is the first time that cosmic-ray electrons have been identified above 50 GeV. The electron spectrum can be described with a single power law energy dependence with spectral index -3.18 +- 0.05 above the energy region influenced by the solar wind (> 30 GeV). No significant spectral features are observed and the data can be interpreted in terms of conventional diffusive propagation models. However, the data are also consistent with models including new cosmic-ray sources that could explain the rise in the positron fraction.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PR

M-Horizons

We solve the Killing spinor equations and determine the near horizon geometries of M-theory that preserve at least one supersymmetry. The M-horizon spatial sections are 9-dimensional manifolds with a Spin(7) structure restricted by geometric constraints which we give explicitly. We also provide an alternative characterization of the solutions of the Killing spinor equation, utilizing the compactness of the horizon section and the field equations, by proving a Lichnerowicz type of theorem which implies that the zero modes of a Dirac operator coupled to 4-form fluxes are Killing spinors. We use this, and the maximum principle, to solve the field equations of the theory for some special cases and present some examples.Comment: 36 pages, latex. Reference added, minor typos correcte