Searching for Faint Planetary Nebulae Using the Digital Sky Survey

Recent Halpha surveys such as SHS and IPHAS have improved the completeness of the Galactic planetary nebula (PN) census. We now know of ~3,000 PNe in the Galaxy, but this is far short of most estimates, typically ~25,000 or more for the total population. The size of the Galactic PN population is required to derive an accurate estimate of the chemical enrichment rates of nitrogen, carbon, and helium. In addition, a high PN count (~20,000) is strong evidence that most 1-8 Msun main sequence stars will go through a PN phase, while a low count (<10,000) argues that special conditions (e.g., a close binary interaction) are required to form a PN. We describe a technique for finding hundreds more PNe using the existing data collections of the digital sky surveys, thereby improving the census of Galactic PNe.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (PASA), full resolution paper available at http://www.wiyn.org/jacoby_pasa.pd

Discovery of an Exceptional Optical Nebulosity in the Suspected Galactic SN Iax Remnant Pa 30 Linked to the Historical Guest Star of 1181 CE

A newly recognized young Galactic SN remnant, Pa 30 (G123.1+4.6), centered on a hot central star with a ~16,000 km/s wind velocity has recently been proposed to be the result of a double-degenerate merger leading to a SN Iax event associated with the guest star of 1181 CE. Here we present deep optical [S II] 6716,6731 images of Pa 30 which reveal an extraordinary and highly structured nebula 170" in diameter with dozens of long (5" - 20") radially aligned filaments with a convergence point near the hot central star. Optical spectra of filaments indicate a peak expansion velocity ~1100 km/s with electron densities of <100 to 700 cm^-3, and a thick shell-like structure resembling its appearance in 22 micron WISE images. No H-alpha emission was seen (I[6716/H-alpha] >5), with the only other line emission detected being faint [Ar III] 7136 suggesting a S, Ar-rich but H-poor remnant. The nebula's angular size, estimated 2.3 kpc distance, and 1100 km/s expansion velocity are consistent with an explosion date around 1181 CE. The remnant's unusual appearance may be due to the photoionization of wind-driven ejecta due to clump-wind interactions caused by the central star's high-luminosity wind.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures; revised text plus a new figure; Accepted for publication in the ApJ Letter

Designing a new measure for cognition after stroke - Easy access report

This 15 page document with large text and accessible language is an easy access version of the PhD thesis. It describes the development of a patient centred outcome measure designed to assess impact of cognitive problems after stroke. In August 2015, this report was sent to individuals who supported the PhD work: either as study participants or collaborators

Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke

Background  Aphasia is an acquired language impairment following brain damage that affects some or all language modalities: expression and understanding of speech, reading, and writing. Approximately one third of people who have a stroke experience aphasia.  Objectives  To assess the effects of speech and language therapy (SLT) for aphasia following stroke.  Search methods  We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched 9 September 2015), CENTRAL (2015, Issue 5) and other Cochrane Library Databases (CDSR, DARE, HTA, to 22 September 2015), MEDLINE (1946 to September 2015), EMBASE (1980 to September 2015), CINAHL (1982 to September 2015), AMED (1985 to September 2015), LLBA (1973 to September 2015), and SpeechBITE (2008 to September 2015). We also searched major trials registers for ongoing trials including ClinicalTrials.gov (to 21 September 2015), the Stroke Trials Registry (to 21 September 2015), Current Controlled Trials (to 22 September 2015), and WHO ICTRP (to 22 September 2015). In an effort to identify further published, unpublished, and ongoing trials we also handsearched theInternational Journal of Language and Communication Disorders(1969 to 2005) and reference lists of relevant articles, and we contacted academic institutions and other researchers. There were no language restrictions.  Selection criteria  Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SLT (a formal intervention that aims to improve language and communication abilities, activity and participation) versus no SLT; social support or stimulation (an intervention that provides social support and communication stimulation but does not include targeted therapeutic interventions); or another SLT intervention (differing in duration, intensity, frequency, intervention methodology or theoretical approach).  Data collection and analysis  We independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of included trials. We sought missing data from investigators.  Main results  We included 57 RCTs (74 randomised comparisons) involving 3002 participants in this review (some appearing in more than one comparison). Twenty-seven randomised comparisons (1620 participants) assessed SLT versus no SLT; SLT resulted in clinically and statistically significant benefits to patients' functional communication (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06 to 0.49, P = 0.01), reading, writing, and expressive language, but (based on smaller numbers) benefits were not evident at follow-up. Nine randomised comparisons (447 participants) assessed SLT with social support and stimulation; meta-analyses found no evidence of a difference in functional communication, but more participants withdrew from social support interventions than SLT. Thirty-eight randomised comparisons (1242 participants) assessed two approaches to SLT. Functional communication was significantly better in people with aphasia that received therapy at a high intensity, high dose, or over a long duration compared to those that received therapy at a lower intensity, lower dose, or over a shorter period of time. The benefits of a high intensity or a high dose of SLT were confounded by a significantly higher dropout rate in these intervention groups. Generally, trials randomised small numbers of participants across a range of characteristics (age, time since stroke, and severity profiles), interventions, and outcomes.  Authors' conclusions  Our review provides evidence of the effectiveness of SLT for people with aphasia following stroke in terms of improved functional communication, reading, writing, and expressive language compared with no therapy. There is some indication that therapy at high intensity, high dose or over a longer period may be beneficial. HIgh-intensity and high dose interventions may not be acceptable to all

Grantecan spectroscopic observations and confirmations of Planetary Nebulae candidates in the Northern Galactic Plane

We present Grantecan 10 m telescope (GTC) spectroscopic confirmations of 55 faint Planetary Nebulae (PNe) candidates discovered largely in the INT Photometric H$_\alpha$ Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane (IPHAS) by our pro-am collaboration. We confirm 46 of them as 'True' (T), 4 as 'Likely' (L) and 5 as 'Possible' (P) PNe and including 5 new PNe central star (CSPN) discoveries. This was from observations of 62 new candidates yielding a maximum PN discovery success rate of 89%. The sensitivity and longer wavelength coverage of IPHAS allows PNe to be found in regions of greater extinction and at these lower Galactic latitudes, including PNe in a more advanced evolutionary state and at larger distances compared to previously known Galactic PNe. We use an holistic set of observed characteristics and optical emission-line diagnostics to confirm candidates. Plasma properties have been determined in a self-consistent way using PyNeb. This work is facilitated by the functionality of our powerful, multi-wavelength database 'HASH' (Hong Kong, Australian Astronomical Observatory, Strasbourg Observatory H-alpha Planetary Nebula catalogue) that federates known imaging, spectroscopy and other pertinent data for all Galactic T, L, P PNe and the significant numbers of mimics. Reddenings, corrected radial velocities and PNe electron density and temperature estimates are provided for these new PNe where possible.Comment: Accepted for publication by MNRA