Modelling submillimetre spectra of the protostellar infall candidates NGC1333-IRAS2 and Serpens SMM4

We present a radiative transfer model, which is applicable to the study of submillimetre spectral line observations of protostellar envelopes. The model uses an exact, non-LTE, spherically symmetric radiative transfer `Stenholm' method, which numerically solves the radiative transfer problem by the process of `Lambda-iteration'. We also present submillimetre spectral line data of the Class 0 protostars NGC1333-IRAS2 and Serpens SMM4. We examine the physical constraints which can be used to limit the number and range of parameters used in protostellar envelope models, and identify the turbulent velocity and tracer molecule abundance as the principle sources of uncertainty in the radiative transfer modelling. We explore the trends in the appearance of the predicted line profiles as key parameters in the models are varied. We find that the separation of the two peaks of a typical infall profile is dependent not on the evolutionary status of the collapsing protostar, but on the turbulent velocity dispersion in the envelope. We also find that the line shapes can be significantly altered by rotation. Fits are found for the observed line profiles of IRAS2 and SMM4 using plausible infall model parameters. The density and velocity profiles in our best fit models are inconsistent with a singular isothermal sphere model. We find better agreement with a form of collapse which assumes non-static initial conditions. We also find some evidence that the infall velocities are retarded from free-fall towards the centre of the cloud, probably by rotation, and that the envelope of SMM4 is rotationally flattened.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalogue

This report describes a computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between 0 and 10000 GHz (i.e., wavelengths longer than 30 micrometers). The catalogue can be used as a planning guide or as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue has been constructed using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances. Future versions of this catalogue will add more atoms and molecules and update the present listings (151 species) as new data appear. The catalogue is available from the authors as a magnetic tape recorded in card images and as a set of microfiche records

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalogue

A computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between O and 3000 GHz (such as; wavelengths longer than 100 m) is discussed. The catalogue was used as a planning guide and as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue was constructed by using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances

Submillimeter, millimeter, and microwave spectral line catalogue

A computer accessible catalogue of submillimeter, millimeter and microwave spectral lines in the frequency range between 0 and 3000 GHZ (i.e., wavelengths longer than 100 mu m) is presented which can be used a planning guide or as an aid in the identification and analysis of observed spectral lines. The information listed for each spectral line includes the frequency and its estimated error, the intensity, lower state energy, and quantum number assignment. The catalogue was constructed by using theoretical least squares fits of published spectral lines to accepted molecular models. The associated predictions and their estimated errors are based upon the resultant fitted parameters and their covariances. Future versions of this catalogue will add more atoms and molecules and update the present listings (133 species) as new data appear. The catalogue is available as a magnetic tape recorded in card images and as a set of microfiche records

Talking Time in Children's Adventure Fiction: Which Gender Controls the Discourse?

It is nowadays widely agreed that gender identity is socially and culturally constructed. This construction is enabled by parental and other adult models, parental treatment, peer pressure and the media. Today television has a powerful impact, but in the mid-twentieth century books were more influential for many children. Did popular children's fiction of this period merely reflect society's bipolar gender constructs, or did it in any way challenge these? Whereas folklinguistics would suggest that females are more verbose than males, sociolinguists have found the opposite to be true in many contexts; public discourse such as meetings and the classroom tends to be dominated by males. There have been a number of studies of verbosity in real-life contexts; this cross-disciplinary study of four children's adventure books examines the discourse to see who is given the most 'talking time'. It was hypothesised that the authors would be influenced either by the folklinguistic view and give their girls long speech turns, or by the actual discourse they themselves experienced and give the boys the lion's share. The actual picture that emerges is far more complex, suggesting that while some writers did indeed reflect and support the accepted gender roles of the society in which they wrote, others created discourse which interwove gender, age and personality, with personality the most powerful factor in determining dominance

Examining the ideas of Francis Fukuyama and Samuel P. Huntington in Relation the the Geo-Political Developments of the Post-Cold War

The purpose of this study is to examine the contrasting ideas of Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History (1989) and Samuel P. Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations (1993). My research will support Fukuyama’s claims that the end of the Cold War marks a triumph for Western ideals and the spread of liberal democracy has produced a lasting order of peace and prosperity. The study will defend the existence of a New World Order and the notion that democracy is a universal concept from which to challenge Huntington's arguments of future conflict among civilizations. I will argue that Huntington’s interpretation of civilizations is too simplistic and fails to acknowledge the extent to which globalization has increased economic interdependence between states. The consequence of interdependence will be examined in relation to the social effects of globalization and the extent to which a universal consumer society is creating a global culture of mass consumption. In arguing that cultural tensions will be reduced by the effects of globalization, I will defend the idea of a liberal peace and the argument that democracies do not fight each other. The study will then address Fukuyama’s concept of the Last Man at the end of the History and the concerns that this raises for stunting social advancement. Future socities will not necessarily degenerate into apathy and nihilism as the Last Man will live in a world governed by market forces and will remain innovative and competitive. Furthermore, individual pursuits for power and prestige will not threaten to undermine the social order as individual endeavour will be constrained to the economic sphere and will seldom extend to political or military ambitions. The study will conclude that the spread of liberal democracy and free market capitalism can secure a sustainable New World Order. Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations will not occur due to increased economic interdependence and a culture of mass consumption. The study will argue that the intensification of national sentiments and a revival in fundamentalism will not necessarily lead to a full blown clash of civilizations. While antagonisms will still exist, these conflicts will be unable to produce a dialectical opposition capable of undermining the global balance of power. Therefore, the strength of opposition to global capitalism will be ineffective in preventing the spread of a consumer culture and civilizations will exist as benign entities within an increasingly globalized world

The Effectiveness of Sexual Education Programs on Teen Births Among Females With and Without a Family History of Teen Births

Adolescents (ages 10 to 19) and young adults (ages 20 to 24) make up 21% of the population of the United States. Therefore, the topic of adolescent health is an important focus in Healthy People 2020.5 The HP 2020 initiative describes adolescent health as a fairly broad topical area that encompasses smaller subjects such as teen smoking, pregnancy, and suicide. Due to its recent decline, teen pregnancy is often overlooked as an epidemic problem in the United States. According to the CDC, “…the sexual and reproductive health of America’s young persons remains an important public health concern: a substantial number of youth are affected, disparities exist, and earlier progress appears to be slowing and perhaps reversing. These patterns exist for a range of health outcomes (i.e., sexual risk behavior, pregnancy and births, STDs, HIV/AIDS, and sexual violence), highlighting the magnitude of the threat to young persons’ sexual and reproductive health.”6(p13) In 2009 the U.S. birth rate for females aged 15-19 years was 39.1 births per 1,000 females.2 Compared to the peak rate of 61.8 births per 1,000 females in 1991, the teen birth rate in 2009 was approximately 37% lower.4 This significant change has likely been due to a steady decline in the proportion of sexually experienced teenagers—those who have ever had sex—and an increase in the proportion of teens who use contraception during intercourse.4 Additionally, female teenagers are using and have more access to a wide variety of highly effective contraceptive methods.4 Although these trends demonstrate a drop in the initiation of sexual activity and an increase in protective sexual behaviors, it should be noted that most of this progression occurred before 2007.11 Data collected since then have shown no significant changes in these behaviors. 3 Despite the decreasing rates in recent years, the teen birth rate in the United States still remains as much as nine times higher as other developed countries.9 Compared with the births of adult women, births to teenagers are at greater risk for low birth weight, preterm birth, and death in infancy. Teen childbearing is also associated with cyclic truancy and increased dropout rates for teen mothers. Children of teen mothers are more likely to have low school achievement, drop out of high school, and give birth themselves as teens.9 Not only is there an individual economic burden associated with teenage pregnancy, but there is also an alarming national economic burden. In 2008 teen pregnancy cost taxpayers in the U.S. $10.9 billion dollars. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Teen pregnancy and childbearing is closely linked to a host of other critical issues---educational attainment, poverty and income, overall child well-being, health issues, and others. 1(p1) Research has provided evidence of specific influences affecting adolescent pregnancy rates. Findings suggest that parent/child connectedness, parental supervision or regulation of children\u27s activities, and parents\u27 values against unprotected teen intercourse are all protective factors decreasing the risk of adolescent pregnancy. Risk factors for teen pregnancy include the following: residing in dangerous neighborhoods, lower socioeconomic status, living with a single parent, having sexually active or pregnant/parenting siblings, and being a victim of sexual abuse.14 Several biological factors such as the timing of puberty, hormone levels, and genetics are also related to adolescent pregnancy risk.13 A family history of teen births is a strong predictor for increased risk among teenage girls as well. According to two studies examining teen birth trends among 4 nationally representative samples in the United States and Great Britain, the teenage birthrate of daughters of teenage mothers was more than twice that of daughters of women who were 20 or older at first birth.12 Another study found that adolescents whose mothers gave birth at a young age were likely to also be involved in an early pregnancy, a finding that held true for both genders.13 This link may exist due to the mother\u27s unstable marital status, inept parenting techniques, or the socioeconomic hardship associated with being a teen mom. The relationship between mothers\u27 and daughters\u27 young ages at first birth is partially explained by teen mothers’ limited education and potential lack of emphasis on their children’s schooling.12 Due to the advanced costs of teenage births and the cyclical nature of teen parenting, it is important that evidence-based sexual education programs be implemented and evaluated—especially for high-risk teens. Clinical and program personnel who teach sex education should identify girls who are more vulnerable to risky sexual practices resulting in teen births. Prevention programs that target these youths should be implemented within comprehensive sex education.12 After all, comprehensive sexual education programs have been associated with positive health outcomes among youth reducing rates of teen pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.10 Moreover, comprehensive curricula have been correlated with positive behavior change including the delay of sexual initiation, reduction in frequency of sexual intercourse, reduction in the number of sexual partners, and an increase in the use of effective methods of contraception.7 Unfortunately, the position that sexual education plays in the initiation of sexual activity and risk of teen pregnancy is somewhat contentious in the United States among the population at large. However, comprehensive programs seem to be growing with 5 support from parents, community members, some faith-based institutions, and many professionals and professional organizations.8 Based on a review of risk reduction programs in the U.S., comprehensive sex education has been associated with a decline in negative sexual behaviors and an increase in protective factors. Evidence for abstinence only education was found to be inconclusive with several outcome inconsistencies.11 Results suggest that these comprehensive interventions provide broader benefits and are appropriate to youth ages 10-19 of all genders, races, and sexual experience, and in both school and community settings. However, it was noted that interventions may be more effective for boys than girls.10 If this is true, then it is even more important that high risk females be targeted for comprehensive risk reduction programs. Nonetheless, sexual risk behavior has been found to be driven strongly by parental influence in addition to—or possibly more than—curriculum content within comprehensive sex education.3 Parents “provide structure (in the form of parental monitoring), support (through a positive parent–child relationship), and information (by communicating about sexual topics).”13(p507) Parents also serve as role models for their adolescent children in a multitude of ways, including sexual behaviors and attitudes. Still, little research has been done looking into parental modeling of sexual behavior and its predictive value remains uncertain.13 There is a gap in the sexual education literature in differentiating the effectiveness of sexual education specifically for girls with a family history of teen births. Not only can these girls be compared to those without a family history of teen births, but their data may be stratified within the group to look at differences between those with no sex education, abstinence only education, and the comprehensive programming. It is vital that 6 we determine how past family history of teen births moderates the effects of comprehensive sex education to ensure we aren’t missing this group of high risk individuals and to better serve program planning and intervention efforts designed to delay or reduce pregnancy among this age group. This study hypothesizes that a family history of teen births will change the effectiveness of sex education, decreasing program efficacy for these high-risk individuals. Alternatively, family history will play no part in the ability of comprehensive sex education to prevent teen birth outcomes. For the present study, data from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) were obtained to determine how family history of teen births tempers the efficacy of comprehensive sexual education on teen births

A systematic review of the effectiveness of family-based treatment with and without adjunctive treatment for children and adolescents with eating disorders

Family-based treatment (FBT) has been widely accepted as the first-line treatment for children and adolescents with restrictive eating disorders. While this treatment has been widely studied and accepted as best practice, most studies confirming its effectiveness focus on the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). There have been many studies aimed at providing adjunctive treatment to enhance the effectiveness of this treatment, but these benefits have yet to be cumulatively studied. The primary objectives of this study were to 1) summarize the effectiveness of FBT for the wide range of eating disorders, 2) summarize the effectiveness of adjunctive treatments, 3) identify predictors, moderators, and mediators that impact treatment outcomes of FBT, and 4) identify what definitions of remission are being used in the literature. Fifty-two studies were examined and synthesized. Based on these studies, FBT continues to demonstrate effectiveness when used to treat eating disorders, not limited to AN and BN. However, the results varied depending on the outcome measure. Varying predictors, moderators, and mediators of treatment have been identified, such as patient, parent, and family characteristics, severity of eating disorders, specific FBT interventions, and therapeutic alliance, among others. Adjunctive treatments were aimed at either providing greater parental support or addressing the psychological distress of the patient. Participants rated these adjunctive treatments highly and they produced favorable preliminary outcomes. The most common definition of remission for AN was achieving ≥95% EBW and an EDE Global score within one standard deviation of the community sample norms