X-Ray Emitting Ejecta of Supernova Remnant N132D

The brightest supernova remnant in the Magellanic Clouds, N132D, belongs to the rare class of oxygen-rich remnants, about a dozen objects that show optical emission from pure heavy-element ejecta. They originate in explosions of massive stars that produce large amounts of O, although only a tiny fraction of that O is found to emit at optical wavelengths. We report the detection of substantial amounts of O at X-ray wavelengths in a recent 100 ks Chandra ACIS observation of N132D. A comparison between subarcsecond-resolution Chandra and Hubble images reveals a good match between clumpy X-ray and optically emitting ejecta on large (but not small) scales. Ejecta spectra are dominated by strong lines of He- and H-like O; they exhibit substantial spatial variations partially caused by patchy absorption within the LMC. Because optical ejecta are concentrated in a 5 pc radius elliptical expanding shell, the detected ejecta X-ray emission also originates in this shell.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, ApJ Letters, in pres

A compact design for a magnetic synchrotron to store beams of hydrogen atoms

We present a design for an atomic synchrotron consisting of 40 hybrid magnetic hexapole lenses arranged in a circle. We show that for realistic parameters, hydrogen atoms with a velocity up to 600 m/s can be stored in a 1-meter diameter ring, which implies that the atoms can be injected in the ring directly from a pulsed supersonic beam source. This ring can be used to study collisions between stored hydrogen atoms and molecular beams of many different atoms and molecules. The advantage of using a synchrotron is two-fold: (i) the collision partners move in the same direction as the stored atoms, resulting in a small relative velocity and thus a low collision energy, and (ii) by storing atoms for many round-trips, the sensitivity to collisions is enhanced by a factor of 100-1000. In the proposed ring, the cross-sections for collisions between hydrogen, the most abundant atom in the universe, with any atom or molecule that can be put in a beam, including He, H$_2$, CO, ammonia and OH can be measured at energies below 100 K. We discuss the possibility to use optical transitions to load hydrogen atoms into the ring without influencing the atoms that are already stored. In this way it will be possible to reach high densities of stored hydrogen atoms.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Barriers and facilitators to the delivery of a biopsychosocial education and exercise programme for patients with chronic low back pain in Ghana. A qualitative study

Purpose Low back pain management has evolved with researchers advocating for a biopsychosocial management model. The biopsychosocial management model has been predominantly applied in high-income countries and underexplored in low- and middle-income countries including Ghana. This study aimed to explore the potential barriers and facilitators to patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and physiotherapists engagement with a biopsychosocial intervention (exercise and patient education) as part of a feasibility study. Material and methods This was a qualitative study embedded within a mixed-methods, sequential, feasibility study, in Ghana, applying semi-structured interviews. Two categories of participants involved in this study were, two trained physiotherapists, and six patients with CLBP, sampled within the feasibility study. Results Regarding the barriers and facilitators to the delivery of the BPS intervention, five interlinked themes emerged from the thematic analysis. These were: structure and process of delivery; patients’ expectations; patients’ health beliefs, autonomy, and engagement; external influences and personal and professional characteristics of physiotherapists. Conclusion The themes that emerged from this study demonstrated many positive facilitators based on participants’ improved understanding of LBP and the clarity and purpose of the biopsychosocial intervention. The results therefore demonstrate a potential to deliver the biopsychosocial intervention in a Ghanaian context

Operationalisation of a biopsychosocial approach for the non-pharmacological management of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Background Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a major health concern. The biopsychosocial approach is an evidence-based approach recommended for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, the evidence for this approach is largely reported from high-income countries; therefore, it is important to ascertain how biopsychosocial approaches are operationalised in low- and middle-income countries to inform practice. Aim To examine the evidence for the operationalization of biopsychosocial interventions in managing patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in low-and middle-income countries. Methods The search included studies published in English from 2008 to September 2019 in: Cochrane library, OVID, CINAHL, Scopus, PUBMED, Web of Science, and SportDiscus. Randomised and non-randomised trials using a biopsychosocial intervention were considered. The review team developed a search strategy; two independent reviewers screened and assessed results for quality. Results Sixteen studies were included (n = 996) with mainly low back pain populations (n = 11 studies). Others were osteoarthritis (n = 1) and other musculoskeletal pain (n = 4). The majority (n = 12) of studies attained fair to poor quality, three had good quality, one scored excellent quality. Interventions applied biopsychosocial principles such as cognitive functional therapy, and graded activity, delivered by healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists and doctors. However, most results provided insufficient information regarding healthcare professionals' capacity to deliver interventions, lack of information regarding intervention delivery and training of healthcare professionals. Conclusions The results highlight the potential for delivering biopsychosocial interventions in low- and middle-income countries; however, future research should consider robust methodological approaches with clear details to achieve high-quality trials

Warble infestations in some Canadian caribou and their significance

Warble fly larvae (Oedemagena tarandi) occurred in 97-100% of barren-ground caribou (R.t. groen-landicus) sampled in March from the Beverly herd. In December, they occurred in 98% of males and 75% of females. Larvae numbers increased up to several-fold from December to March. Within age classes, males generally were more heavily infected than females. Annual differences were small. Larvae occurred in 14 and 26% of two populations of Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) on the Canadian Arctic Islands. In them, incidences of larvae were unrelated to sex or age. Greater than average numbers of larvae in barren-ground caribou sometimes were associated with females in relatively poor condition and therefore less fecund. These results are discussed in relation to current hypotheses of the factors that affect warble infections

Barriers and facilitators to the delivery of a biopsychosocial education and exercise programme for patients with chronic low back pain in Ghana. A qualitative study

Purpose: Low back pain management has evolved with researchers advocating for a biopsychosocial management model. The biopsychosocial management model has been predominantly applied in high-income countries and underexplored in low- and middle-income countries including Ghana. This study aimed to explore the potential barriers and facilitators to patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and physiotherapists engagement with a biopsychosocial intervention (exercise and patient education) as part of a feasibility study. Material and methods: This was a qualitative study embedded within a mixed-methods, sequential, feasibility study, in Ghana, applying semi-structured interviews. Two categories of participants involved in this study were, two trained physiotherapists, and six patients with CLBP, sampled within the feasibility study. Results: Regarding the barriers and facilitators to the delivery of the BPS intervention, five interlinked themes emerged from the thematic analysis. These were: structure and process of delivery; patients’ expectations; patients’ health beliefs, autonomy, and engagement; external influences and personal and professional characteristics of physiotherapists. Conclusion: The themes that emerged from this study demonstrated many positive facilitators based on participants’ improved understanding of LBP and the clarity and purpose of the biopsychosocial intervention. The results therefore demonstrate a potential to deliver the biopsychosocial intervention in a Ghanaian context. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION A biopsychosocial approach to managing chronic low back pain offers a promising alternative to patients and physiotherapists in Ghana. A biopsychosocial approach to managing chronic low back pain has the potential to improve physiotherapists’ thoughts and attitudes, and have a positive influence on their professional development in Ghana. A biopsychosocial approach to managing chronic low back pain has the potential to reverse patients’ maladaptive beliefs, improve their understanding of their condition, improve outcomes in Ghana.This study forms part of their PhD which was supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commissio

Dense, Fe-rich Ejecta in Supernova Remnants DEM L238 and DEM L249: A New Class of Type Ia Supernova?

We present observations of two LMC supernova remnants (SNRs), DEM L238 and DEM L249, with the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray satellites. Bright central emission, surrounded by a faint shell, is present in both remnants. The central emission has an entirely thermal spectrum dominated by strong Fe L-shell lines, with the deduced Fe abundance in excess of solar and not consistent with the LMC abundance. This Fe overabundance leads to the conclusion that DEM L238 and DEM L249 are remnants of thermonuclear (Type Ia) explosions. The shell emission originates in gas swept up and heated by the blast wave. A standard Sedov analysis implies about 50 solar masses in both swept-up shells, SNR ages between 10,000 and 15,000 yr, low (< 0.05 cm^-3) preshock densities, and subluminous explosions with energies of 3x10^50 ergs. The central Fe-rich supernova ejecta are close to collisional ionization equilibrium. Their presence is unexpected, because standard Type Ia SNR models predict faint ejecta emission with short ionization ages. Both SNRs belong to a previously unrecognized class of Type Ia SNRs characterized by bright interior emission. Denser than expected ejecta and/or a dense circumstellar medium around the progenitors are required to explain the presence of Fe-rich ejecta in these SNRs. Substantial amounts of circumstellar gas are more likely to be present in explosions of more massive Type Ia progenitors. DEM L238, DEM L249, and similar SNRs could be remnants of ``prompt'' Type Ia explosions with young (~100 Myr old) progenitors.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, ApJ, in pres