Gravitational Waves from Orphan Memory

Gravitational-wave memory manifests as a permanent distortion of an idealized gravitational-wave detector and arises generically from energetic astrophysical events. For example, binary black hole mergers are expected to emit memory bursts a little more than an order of magnitude smaller in strain than the oscillatory parent waves. We introduce the concept of "orphan memory": gravitational-wave memory for which there is no detectable parent signal. In particular, high-frequency gravitational-wave bursts ($\gtrsim$ kHz) produce orphan memory in the LIGO/Virgo band. We show that Advanced LIGO measurements can place stringent limits on the existence of high-frequency gravitational waves, effectively increasing the LIGO bandwidth by orders of magnitude. We investigate the prospects for and implications of future searches for orphan memory.Comment: 5 pages, 4figure

The Australian and New Zealand dialysis workforce

Aim: To capture a &quot;snapshot&quot; of the current Australian and New Zealand dialysis workforce in order to contribute to the future renal workforce challenges. Methods: A web-based survey of dialysis managers (n=221) were asked fifteen questions relating to demographics, age, full-time equivalent information, workforce designation, post-registration qualifications, subjective perceptions of staffing levels, staffing strategies and future dialysis research recommendations Results: In Australia in 2008 there were 2433 registered nurses, 188 enrolled nurses and 295 dialysis professionals (technicians) and 327 registered nurses (RNs), 8 enrolled nurses (ENs) and 64 dialysis professionals in New Zealand. There were significant variations in staff/patient ratios, workforce profiles and post-registration qualifications. There is a significant association between staff/ patient and home dialysis ratios. A high proportion of renal staff worked part-time, particularly in Australia. The dialysis workforce reflects the aging nature of the general nursing population in Australia and New Zealand. The majority of dialysis nurse managers perceived they had sufficient staff. Conclusion: Workforce variations found in this study may be useful to identify future workforce challenges and strategies. <br /

Isotopic labelling of functionalised arenes catalysed by Ir(I) species of the [(COD)Ir(NHC)(py)]PF6 complex class

Ir(I) complexes of the type [(COD)Ir(NHC)(Py)]PF6 have been exposed as efficient catalysts in the area of hydrogen isotope exchange. More specifically, via an ortho-directed C-H activation process, high levels of deuterium incorporation have been achieved using low levels of catalyst over a range of functionalised aromatic compounds. Additionally, the developed protocol has been extended to include a selected pharmacological target, where chemoselective labelling is observed within such a multifunctional substrate

Smoking cessation for improving mental health (Protocol)

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:. To investigate the association between tobacco smoking cessation and subsequent mental health outcomes.</p

Smoking cessation for improving mental health (Protocol)

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To investigate the association between tobacco smoking cessation and subsequent mental health outcomes

A ground-based experimental test program to duplicate and study the spacecraft glow phenomenon

The use of a plasma device, the Advanced Concepts Torus-I, for producing atoms and molecules to study spacecraft glow mechanisms is discussed. A biased metal plate, located in the plasma edge, is used to accelerate and neutralize plasma ions, thus generating a neutral beam with a flux approx. 5 x 10 to the 14th power/sq cm/sec at the end of a drift tube. Our initial experiments are to produce a 10 eV molecular and atomic nitrogen beam directed onto material targets. Photon emission in the spectral range 2000 to 9000 A from excited species formed on the target surface will be investigated

Equilibrium Moisture Content of Kabuli, Chickpea, Black Sesame, and White Sesame Seeds

Sesame and chickpea are important crops in Ethiopia because both are major export crops that generate much revenue for both small farmers and the country as a whole. However, there is a lack of information about the fundamental equilibrium moisture content (EMC) relationships among these crops, which would help facilitate better monitoring and storage. Therefore, EMC adsorption and desorption prediction models based on temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were developed for the modified Chung-Pfost and modified Henderson models for Kabuli chickpea (KC), black sesame (BS), and white sesame (WS) seeds. The samples for conducting the adsorption and desorption tests were conditioned to various moisture content (MC) levels for the EMC test models. The samples (~500 g) were placed in multiple sealed enclosures equipped with T and RH sensors, which were placed in an environmental chamber where they were exposed to three temperatures (15°C, 25°C, and 35°C). The MCdb ranges used for model development for adsorption and desorption were, respectively, 11.6% to 19.5% and 8.9% to 16.9% for KC samples, 5.0% to 8.7% and 4.3% to 6.9% for BS, and 4.2% to 8.7% and 3.5% to 7.6% for WS. Nonlinear regression was used to determine the model coefficients for the modified Henderson and modified Chung-Pfost equations. The prediction statistics for the adsorption and desorption models yielded an SEE of, respectively, 0.53% and 0.68% MCdb for KC, 0.23% and 0.13% for BS, and 0.28% and 0.25% for WS. The model coefficients obtained in this study will be used in a moisture meter based on EMC measurement, which is currently being used as part of a USAID postharvest project in various African and Asian countries. These EMC models may also be important for other grain operations, which include harvesting, drying, storage, conditioning, and processing

Potential of Water and Salt Yields From Surface Runoff on Public Lands in the Price River Basin

The report examines possible sources of dissolved salts in the Price River basin. Ephemeral and intermittent streams contributed dissolved salts and are the focus of the study. Seven subwatersheds and the Price River at Heiner are investigated to examine the effects of existing watershed characteristics on runoff and dissolved salts production. Alternatley, the report examines the effects of specific land treatments on surface runoff quantity and quality. Various instrumentation techniques are evalauted to help improve future data collected capabilities in intermittent channels. The examination of the data reveals various trends that might be considered for further investigation in subsequent studies

Biological nitrogen fixation by legume cover plants in oil palm plantations: calibration of the ureide technique and effects of plantation age and soil nitrate

Background and Aims. To sustainably manage N in oil palm systems quantities of N fixed by cover legumes need to be understood. Current values are scarce, based on shoot N measures and do not include litter which releases nitrate as it decomposes. We aimed to quantify N2 fixed by legumes under oil palm systems in PNG and to determine if soil nitrate influenced dependence on N2 fixation (Ndfa). Methods. The ureide technique for estimating tropical legume Ndfa was calibrated for Calapogonium mucunoides and Pueraria phaseoloides using 15N isotope dilution, and then used to assess Ndfa for legume cover under oil palms (2 to 25 years old) in Papua New Guinea. Amounts of fixed N in aboveground legume biomass (shoot plus litter) were calculated incorporating % groundcover. Soil nitrate under the legume litter was also measured. Results. Legume Ndfa was highly negatively correlated with soil nitrate concentration but independent of palm age. Legume groundcover, shoot and litter dry matter, and quantity of fixed N were greater under oil palms less than 5 years old, decreasing under older plantations where solely C. caeruleum was present. DM and N content of litter were similar to shoots for legumes in plantations less than 6 years old. Conclusion. The calibrated ureide technique can be used, together with estimates of annual legume N accumulation, to quantify N input from legume groundcover during the life cycle of oil palm plantations and other tropical ecosystems, in order to support more sustainable management of N