MSX versus IRAS Two-Color Diagrams and the CSE-Sequence of Oxygen-Rich Late-Type Stars

We present MSX two-color diagrams that can be used to characterize circumstellar environments of sources with good quality MSX colors in terms of IRAS color regions for oxygen-rich stars. With these diagrams we aim to provide a new tool that can be used to study circumstellar environments and to improve detection rates for targeted surveys for circumstellar maser emission similar to the IRAS two-color diagram. This new tool is especially useful for regions in the sky where IRAS was confused, in particular in the Galactic plane and bulge region. Unfortunately, using MSX colors alone does not allow to distinguish between carbon-rich and oxygen-rich objects. An application of this tool on 86 GHz SiO masers shows that for this type of masers an instantaneous detection rate of 60% to 80% can be achieved if target sources are selected according to MSX color (region). Our investigations may have revealed an error in the MSX point source catalog version 2.3. That is, the photometry of the 21.3 $\mu$m (MSX E filter) band for most weak 8.28 $\mu$m (or MSX A filter) band sources seems off by about a factor two (0.5--1 magnitude too bright).Comment: accepted to Astrophysical Journal, 11 pages, 11 figs of which 1 in colo

GRID INTEGRATION OF WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY

International audienceWave and tidal energy provide a renewable source of electricity. However, their inherent fluctuations may have a negative impact on the power quality of a local electrical network. Grid operators assess this impact through the use of dynamic models of the generation units, which are inserted into the overall power system model. Providing these models is a compulsory step for any power generator to procure a grid connection above a specified power capacity. Significant issues were encountered in the wind energy industry regarding the dynamic modelling of devices, among which were model numerical instability, poor dynamic model quality and model incompatibility. Considering the large diversity of device types in the emerging ocean energy industry, these problems are considered as a major barrier to the larger scale grid-integration of marine energy converters. Dynamic models must clearly demonstrate the compliance of the actual power generation device and array of devices to the grid code requirements for grid-connection to be allowed. A further barrier to grid connection of ocean energy devices is that existing grid codes – mainly written in the context of wind energy-may be irrelevant or inadequate for ocean energy devices. This paper presents an overview of these issues, and details a radically different approach to the dynamic modelling of ocean energy devices that will assist in overcoming the issues previously encountered in the development of wind turbine models. It also highlights the gaps and inadequacy regarding grid code requirements for ocean energy devices, and provides some recommendations for a new ocean energy grid code

Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 in the faeces of cattle with false positive reactions in serological tests for brucellosis in Ireland

Intestinal infection by Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 (YeO9) in cattle has been linked to false positive serological reactivity (FPSR) in diagnostic tests for brucellosis. Although eradicated in Ireland, brucellosis monitoring still identifies seropositive animals, usually one or two (termed singletons) per herd, which are classed as FPSR. To investigate a link between FPSR and YeO9, faeces and blood were collected from singleton FPSR cattle, and from companion animals, in eight selected herds with more than one FPSR animal, for YeO9 culture and Brucella serology. YeO9 was isolated from 76/474 (16%) FPSR singletons in 309 herds, but not from any of 621 animals in 122 control non-FPSR herds. In the FPSR herds 52/187 (27.8%) animals were culture positive, and 17% of the isolates were from seronegative animals. Seropositive animals were more likely to have a rising antibody titre when culture positive

A Game Of Triage: Developing a Game to Teach Medical Students Triage Tagging in The Setting of a Mass Casualty Event

Purpose: Triage tagging during a mass casualty event (MCE) is an essential skill when it comes to being able to distribute limited resources to those most critical out in the field. Medical students do not receive any formal training on this. This project set out to design a game that would effectively teach students how to use the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) algorithm in the event they ever find themselves assisting in an MCE. Methods: This project was aimed towards MS-4’s during their EM rotation. Due to COVID-19, the game design was adjusted to an online platform for students to play. Students were given a pre- and post-game quiz containing triage cases and were asked to assign the appropriate tag color to each. Average scores were compared between pre- and post-quizzes with a t-test to assess for any significant differences between the two quizzes. Results and Conclusions: Unfortunately, the study suffered from a low number of students to participate in playing the game. With the data that was collected, there was no statistically significant differences between scores before and after playing the game. Feedback was obtained during the session on ways to improve the game in the future, such as adding pictures to the cards. Though this study is inconclusive as to whether the triage game was effective in teaching START to students, students did state they found the game enjoyable. Increasing the number of participants for future testing with this game would most likely yield better results

Cognitive Computation sans Representation

The Computational Theory of Mind (CTM) holds that cognitive processes are essentially computational, and hence computation provides the scientific key to explaining mentality. The Representational Theory of Mind (RTM) holds that representational content is the key feature in distinguishing mental from non-mental systems. I argue that there is a deep incompatibility between these two theoretical frameworks, and that the acceptance of CTM provides strong grounds for rejecting RTM. The focal point of the incompatibility is the fact that representational content is extrinsic to formal procedures as such, and the intended interpretation of syntax makes no difference to the execution of an algorithm. So the unique 'content' postulated by RTM is superfluous to the formal procedures of CTM. And once these procedures are implemented in a physical mechanism, it is exclusively the causal properties of the physical mechanism that are responsible for all aspects of the system's behaviour. So once again, postulated content is rendered superfluous. To the extent that semantic content may appear to play a role in behaviour, it must be syntactically encoded within the system, and just as in a standard computational artefact, so too with the human mind/brain - it's pure syntax all the way down to the level of physical implementation. Hence 'content' is at most a convenient meta-level gloss, projected from the outside by human theorists, which itself can play no role in cognitive processing

The perceptions of key stakeholders of the roles of specialist and advanced nursing and midwifery practitioners

Aim: To explore the perceptions of key stakeholders of the roles of specialist and advanced nursing and midwifery practitioners. Background: There is evidence that the contribution of these roles to patient care is poorly understood. Design: This research took place over 2 months in 2015 and is part of a larger study involving a rapid review to inform policy development on the specialist and advanced nursing and midwifery practice in Ireland. As an added value, a qualitative element involving thematic analysis was undertaken with key stakeholders. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted incorporating semistructured interviews with key stakeholders (n = 15). Purposive sampling with maximum diversity was used to recruit a wide range of perspectives. Findings: Participant’s perspectives led to seven themes: Impact of these roles; role preparation, experience and organizational support; specialist and advanced practice roles in an interdisciplinary context; different folks but not such different roles; impact of specialist and advanced practice roles on patient outcomes; barriers and facilitators to enacting specialist and advanced practice roles; future development of these roles. Conclusion: There is acknowledgement of the positive impact of specialist and advanced practitioners; however, the evidence is currently not conclusive. Preparation for these roles needs to reflect changes in the calibre of today’s professional applicants, and organizational support is paramount to their successful execution. The contribution of their activity to patient outcome needs to be made visible to enhance these roles and to justify the development of new roles across a variety of healthcare areas

The City: Art and the Urban Environment

The City: Art and the Urban Environment is the fifth annual exhibition curated by students enrolled in the Art History Methods class. This exhibition draws on the students’ newly developed expertise in art-historical methodologies and provides an opportunity for sustained research and an engaged curatorial experience. Working with a selection of paintings, prints, and photographs, students Angelique Acevedo ’19, Sidney Caccioppoli ’21, Abigail Coakley ’20, Chris Condon ’18, Alyssa DiMaria ’19, Carolyn Hauk ’21, Lucas Kiesel ’20, Noa Leibson ’20, Erin O’Brien ’19, Elise Quick ’21, Sara Rinehart ’19, and Emily Roush ’21 carefully consider depictions of the urban environment in relation to significant social, economic, artistic, and aesthetic developments. [excerpt]https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/artcatalogs/1029/thumbnail.jp