2,869 research outputs found
Research related to measurements of atomic species in the earth's upper atmosphere Final report
Interaction kinetics of atomic oxygen and hydrogen on metal surfaces of satellite-borne mass spectrometer
Viral antibody dynamics in a chiropteran host
1. Bats host many viruses that are significant for human and domestic animal health, but the dynamics of these infections in their natural reservoir hosts remain poorly elucidated.<p></p>
2. In these, and other, systems, there is evidence that seasonal life-cycle events drive infection dynamics, directly impacting the risk of exposure to spillover hosts. Understanding these dynamics improves our ability to predict zoonotic spillover from the reservoir hosts.<p></p>
3. To this end, we followed henipavirus antibody levels of >100 individual E. helvum in a closed, captive, breeding population over a 30-month period, using a powerful novel antibody quantitation method.<p></p>
4. We demonstrate the presence of maternal antibodies in this system and accurately determine their longevity. We also present evidence of population-level persistence of viral infection and demonstrate periods of increased horizontal virus transmission associated with the pregnancy/lactation period.<p></p>
5.The novel findings of infection persistence and the effect of pregnancy on viral transmission, as well as an accurate quantitation of chiropteran maternal antiviral antibody half-life, provide fundamental baseline data for the continued study of viral infections in these important reservoir hosts
Characteristics in stages of change and decisional balance among smokers: The burden of obstructive lung diseases (BOLD)-Australia study
Smoking cessation remains a health promotion target. Applying the Transtheoretical Model to Australian Burden of Obstructive Lung Diseases (BOLD) data, we examined differences in stages of change (SoC) and readiness to quit decisional behaviours. Factors were identified likely to influence readiness of smokers, ≥40 years old, to quit. Analysis was restricted to current smokers classified to one of three stages: pre-contemplation (PC), contemplation (C) or preparation (P) to quit. Their ability to balance positive and negative consequences was measured using decisional balance. Among 314 smokers, 43.0% females and 60.8% overweight/obese, the distribution of SoC was: 38.1% PC, 38.3% C and 23.5% P. Overweight/obesity was associated with readiness to quit in stages C and P and there were more negative than positive attitudes towards smoking in those stages. Males were significantly heavier smokers in PC and C stages. Females used smoking cessation medication more frequently in PC stage, were more embarrassed about smoking and had greater negative reinforcements from smoking. Age started smoking and factors related to smoking history were associated with readiness to quit and increased the odds of being in stage C or P. An overweight/obese smoker was likely to be contemplating or preparing to quit. In these stages, smokers have more negative attitudes toward smoking. Starting smoking later, taking advice on cessation from health providers and using quit medications indicate increased readiness to quit. Evaluating these factors in smokers and developing cessation gain-framed messages may prove useful to healthcare providers
Physical Conditions in Barnard's Loop, Components of the Orion-Eridanus Bubble, and Implications for the WIM Component of the ISM
We have supplemented existing spectra of Barnard's Loop with high accuracy
spectrophotometry of one new position. Cloudy photoionization models were
calculated for a variety of ionization parameters and stellar temperatures and
compared with the observations. After testing the procedure with recent
observations of M43, we establish that Barnard's Loop is photoionized by four
candidate ionizing stars, but agreement between the models and observations is
only possible if Barnard's Loop is enhanced in heavy elements by about a factor
of 1.4. Barnard's Loop is very similar in properties to the brightest
components of the Orion-Eridanus Bubble and the Warm Ionized Medium (WIM). We
are able to establish models that bound the range populated in low-ionization
color-color diagrams (I([SII])/I(H{\alpha}) versus I([NII])/I(H{\alpha})) using
only a limited range of ionization parameters and stellar temperatures.
Previously established variations in the relative abundance of heavy elements
render uncertain the most common method of determining electron temperatures
for components of the Orion-Eridanus Bubble and the WIM based on only the
I([NII])/I(H{\alpha}) ratio, although we confirm that the lowest surface
brightness components of the WIM are on average of higher electron temperature.
The electron temperatures for a few high surface brightness WIM components
determined by direct methods are comparable to those of classical bright H II
regions. In contrast, the low surface brightness HII regions studied by the
Wisconsin H{\alpha} Mapper are of lower temperatures than the classical bright
HII regions
Estimating the Porosity of the Interstellar Medium from Three-Dimensional Photoionization Modeling of H II Regions
We apply our three dimensional photoionization code to model Wisconsin
H-alpha Mapper observations of the H II region surrounding the O9.5V star Zeta
Oph. Our models investigate the porosity of the interstellar medium around zeta
Oph and the effects of 3D densities on the H-alpha surface brightness and
variation in the [N II]/H-alpha line ratio. The Zeta Oph H II region has a well
characterized ionizing source, so it is an excellent starting point for 3D
models of diffuse ionized gas. We investigate various hierarchically clumped
density structures, varying the overall smoothness within the clumping
algorithm. By simulating the observations, we can estimate the porosity of the
medium in the vicinity of Zeta Oph and find that within the context of our
hierarchically clumped models, around 50% to 80% of the volume is occupied by
clumps surrounded by a low density smooth medium. We also conclude that in
order for O stars to ionize the diffuse Warm Ionized Medium, the O star
environment must be more porous than that surrounding Zeta Oph, with clumps
occupying less than one half of the interstellar volume. Our clumpy models have
irregular boundaries, similar to observed H II regions. However, in observed H
II regions it is difficult to identify the precise location of the boundary
because of the foreground and/or background emission from the widespread Warm
Ionized Medium. This complicates the interpretation of the predicted rapid rise
of some emission line ratios near the edge of uniform density H II regions and
combined with the three dimensional clumpy nature of the interstellar medium
may explain the apparent lack of distinctive emission line ratios near H I -- H
II interfaces.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
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