SPH Simulations of Direct Impact Accretion in the Ultracompact AM CVn Binaries

The ultracompact binary systems V407 Vul (RX J1914.4+2456) and HM Cnc (RX J0806.3+1527) - a two-member subclass of the AM CVn stars - continue to pique interest because they defy unambiguous classification. Three proposed models remain viable at this time, but none of the three is significantly more compelling than the remaining two, and all three can satisfy the observational constraints if parameters in the models are tuned. One of the three proposed models is the direct impact model of Marsh & Steeghs (2002), in which the accretion stream impacts the surface of a rapidly-rotating primary white dwarf directly but at a near-glancing angle. One requirement of this model is that the accretion stream have a high enough density to advect its specific kinetic energy below the photosphere for progressively more-thermalized emission downstream, a constraint that requires an accretion spot size of roughly 1.2x10^5 km^2 or smaller. Having at hand a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code optimized for cataclysmic variable accretion disk simulations, it was relatively straightforward for us to adapt it to calculate the footprint of the accretion stream at the nominal radius of the primary white dwarf, and thus to test this constraint of the direct impact model. We find that the mass flux at the impact spot can be approximated by a bivariate Gaussian with standard deviation \sigma_{\phi} = 164 km in the orbital plane and \sigma_{\theta} = 23 km in the perpendicular direction. The area of the the 2\sigma ellipse into which 86% of the mass flux occurs is roughly 47,400 km^2, or roughly half the size estimated by Marsh & Steeghs (2002). We discuss the necessary parameters of a simple model of the luminosity distribution in the post-impact emission region.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Therapy expectations and motivation: preliminary exploration and measurement in adults with intellectual disabilities

Objectives: To carry out a preliminary exploration and measurement of therapy expectancy and motivation in adults with intellectual disabilities through the development and psychometric evaluation of the Therapy Expectation and Motivation Measure (TEAMM). Design: The initial scale development phase combined top-down theory driven and bottom-up data driven processes to identify TEAMM items and format. The subsequent scale evaluation phase piloted the TEAMM and used correlational analyses to evaluate reliability and validity. Method: Six adults with intellectual disabilities took part in semi-structured interviews about therapy expectancy and motivation in order to identify TEAMM items. A further 22 participants piloted the measure for psychometric evaluation. Results: Preliminary psychometric evaluation confirmed that the TEAMM has acceptable test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Assessment of construct validity found a strong and positive relationship with a measure of general self-efficacy. Client expectations of therapy were largely positive and congruent with therapy as a goal-oriented process in which they will be an active participant. However, a number of individuals were unclear about the reason for referral and felt a low level of involvement in the process. Client and carer perceptions of referral understanding were significantly different. Conclusions: The TEAMM may help clinicians to identify potential barriers to engagement in therapy and find ways of enhancing the therapeutic experience of adults with an intellectual disability. Further psychometric evaluation of the TEAMM with larger samples is required to confirm the factorial structure of the scale and enhance its clinical utility

Landscaping Habitat For Humanity Homes: A Community Outreach Project

The purpose of this project is to incorporate a community service component into a Biology course at Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, SD.  Students in an upper-level botany course (Plant Structure and Function) provide landscaping services to homeowners who have purchased homes through Habitat for Humanity.  Homeowner satisfaction with the finished project and student learning are assessed through surveys.&nbsp

The invasion of the human body by the bacillus coli communis: pathological effects, etiology, clinical symptoms and treatment

My aim in writing this Thesis is to draw attention to the fact that the Bacillus Coli Communis is found in the urine more frequently than has hitherto been supposed, and its presence there is indicative of a pathological state of the body. As more is known and studied it will no doubt be possible to describe an infection of the Bacillus Coli Communis as a definite clinical entity, and many diseases described to -day under se- carate headings may one day be described as a stage or phase of a Bacilli Coli Septicaemia or Toxemia, Acute or Chronic. The Bacillus Coli Communis is found in the urine either in pure culture or in association with one or more organisms, but is predominant. In the latter mixed infections it is difficult to judge whether the pathogeneity of the Bacillus Coli Communis is increased or diminished when so associated. One feels that evidence points to an increase of virulence when so associated. In many cases of:- (1) Nephritis, or Bright' s Disease in various forms, the Bacillus Coli Communis is so frequently found that one thinks that at a subsequent date we may regard Nephritis as describing one of the stages of a chronic Bacillus Coli Communis infection. (2) Pyelo-nephritis one regards as being almost invariably associated with Bacillus Coli Communis, with also presence of Calculi. (3) Even in Tuberculosis of the Genito -Urinary Tract this organism is so frequently found associated that one ventures to wonder which had the priority. Did the Bacillus Coli Communis by its presence and toxins produce the necessary stage to permit of the second invasion by the Tubercle Bacillus? (4) Attention will also be drawn to cases ap arently not associated with any clinical symptoms of Genito-Urinary diseases other than.the presence of the Bacillus Coli Communis in the urine as evidenced by (a) Generalised infections, (b) Toxemia as seen in the Eye Cases quoted. One proposition will be maintained, i.e. that the presence of the Bacillus Coli Communis is indicative of a pathological state, and that in normal healthy individuals there should not be any micro-organisms present in the urine. The majority of the cases quoted are of a specific genitourinary infection

Investigating the Rotational Phase of Stellar Flares on M dwarfs Using K2 Short Cadence Data

We present an analysis of K2 short cadence data of 34 M dwarfs which have spectral types in the range M0 - L1. Of these stars, 31 showed flares with a duration between $\sim$10-90 min. Using distances obtained from Gaia DR2 parallaxes, we determined the energy of the flares to be in the range $\sim1.2\times10^{29}-6\times10^{34}$ erg. In agreement with previous studies we find rapidly rotating stars tend to show more flares, with evidence for a decline in activity in stars with rotation periods longer than $\sim$10 days. The rotational modulation seen in M dwarf stars is widely considered to result from a starspot which rotates in and out of view. Flux minimum is therefore the rotation phase where we view the main starspot close to the stellar disk center. Surprisingly, having determined the rotational phase of each flare in our study we find none show any preference for rotational phase. We outline three scenarios which could account for this unexpected finding. The relationship between rotation phase and flare rate will be explored further using data from wide surveys such as NGTS and TESS.Comment: Accepted main Journal MNRA

Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence? : systematic review

Objective To assess the evidence for the acceptability and effectiveness of screening women for domestic violence in healthcare settings. Design Systematic review of published quantitative studies. Search strategy Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, and CINAHL) were searched for articles published in the English language up to February 2001. Included studies Surveys that elicited the attitudes of women and health professionals on the screening of women in health settings; comparative studies conducted in healthcare settings that measured rates of identification of domestic violence in the presence and absence of screening; studies measuring outcomes of interventions for women identified in health settings who experience abuse from a male partner or ex­partner compared with abused women not receiving an intervention. Results 20 papers met the inclusion criteria. In four surveys, 43­85% of women respondents found screening in healthcare settings acceptable. Two surveys of health professionals' views found that two thirds of physicians and almost half of emergency department nurses were not in favour of screening. In nine studies of screening compared with no screening, most detected a greater proportion of abused women identified by healthcare professionals. Six studies of interventions used weak study designs and gave inconsistent results. Other than increased referral to outside agencies, little evidence exists for changes in important outcomes such as decreased exposure to violence. No studies measured quality of life, mental health outcomes, or potential harm to women from screening programmes. Conclusion Although domestic violence is a common problem with major health consequences for women, implementation of screening programmes in healthcare settings cannot be justified. Evidence of the benefit of specific interventions and lack of harm from screening is needed

Added value of bleach sedimentation microscopy for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis: cost-effectiveness study

IUATLD Conference, Paris, 200

Swift observations of the 2015 outburst of AG Peg -- from slow nova to classical symbiotic outburst

Symbiotic stars often contain white dwarfs with quasi-steady shell burning on their surfaces. However, in most symbiotics, the origin of this burning is unclear. In symbiotic slow novae, however, it is linked to a past thermonuclear runaway. In June 2015, the symbiotic slow nova AG Peg was seen in only its second optical outburst since 1850. This recent outburst was of much shorter duration and lower amplitude than the earlier eruption, and it contained multiple peaks -- like outbursts in classical symbiotic stars such as Z And. We report Swift X-ray and UV observations of AG Peg made between June 2015 and January 2016. The X-ray flux was markedly variable on a time scale of days, particularly during four days near optical maximum, when the X-rays became bright and soft. This strong X-ray variability continued for another month, after which the X-rays hardened as the optical flux declined. The UV flux was high throughout the outburst, consistent with quasi-steady shell burning on the white dwarf. Given that accretion disks around white dwarfs with shell burning do not generally produce detectable X-rays (due to Compton-cooling of the boundary layer), the X-rays probably originated via shocks in the ejecta. As the X-ray photo-electric absorption did not vary significantly, the X-ray variability may directly link to the properties of the shocked material. AG Peg's transition from a slow symbiotic nova (which drove the 1850 outburst) to a classical symbiotic star suggests that shell burning in at least some symbiotic stars is residual burning from prior novae.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS 23 June 2016. Manuscript submitted in original form 5 April 201

The Redtail Site : a McKean habitation in south central Saskatchewan

There is a problem in classifying McKean. McKean is known as a variable material culture grouping that spans the Plains. It existed from about 5700 to 3300 years ago (or 5000 to 3000 radiocarbon years B.P.). Variation within McKean is assessed. This is based on the analysis of the Redtail site and systematic comparisons with the Cactus Flower and Crown sites. These, and other general comparisons, indicate that McKean can be considered a tradition, as defined by Willey and Phillips (1958: 37). Syms's (1977: 70-72) taxonomic framework is recommended to distinguish an earlier McKean configuration from a later Hanna configuration. Also, based on varying emphasis of use of plant resources, northern and southern regional composites should be recognized within both configurations. The focus of this study is the Redtail Site (FbNp-10). It is a multicomponent habitation located in a small basin of the South Saskatchewan River in Wanuskewin Heritage Park. This is about three kilometers north of the city of Saskatoon, in south central Saskatchewan. Preliminary tests by Dr. E. G. Walker in 1982 started an ongoing research project. A 44 m2 block area was excavated at the Redtail site during 1988 and 1989. This fieldwork provides most of the data for this thesis. The Redtail site's natural strata are complex accumulations of slopewash, colluvial and fluvial sediments. Cultural stratigraphic interpretations are based on the field excavation done in natural layers, point provenience measurements, and backplotting to detailed profiles. Paleosurface maps of the block area and taphonomic data are used to assess the post-depositional modifications. Features and spatial distribution patterns indicate probable habitation structures in some of the layers. This work provides new information for evaluating variation within McKean

Reducing the Number of Sputum Samples Examined and Thresholds for Positivity: An Opportunity to Optimise Smear Microscopy.

SETTING: Urban health clinic, Nairobi. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact on tuberculosis (TB) case detection and laboratory workload of reducing the number of sputum smears examined and thresholds for diagnosing positive smears and positive cases. DESIGN: In this prospective study, three Ziehl-Neelsen stained sputum smears from consecutive pulmonary TB suspects were examined blind. The standard approach (A), > or = 2 positive smears out of 3, using a cut-off of 10 acid-fast bacilli (AFB)/100 high-power fields (HPF), was compared with approaches B, > or = 2 positive smears (> or = 4 AFB/100 HPF) out of 3, one of which is > or = 10 AFB/100 HPF; C, > or = 2 positive smears (> or = 4 AFB/100 HPF) out of 3; D, > or = 1 positive smear (> or = 10 AFB/100 HPF) out of 2; and E, > or = 1 positive smear (> or = 4 AFB/100 HPF) out of 2. The microscopy gold standard was detection of at least one positive smear (> or = 4 AFB/100 HPF) out of 3. RESULTS: Among 644 TB suspects, the alternative approaches detected from 114 (17.7%) (approach B) to 123 cases (19.1%) (approach E) compared to 105 cases (16.3%) for approach A (P < 0.005). Sensitivity ranged between 82.0% (105/128) for A and 96.1% (123/128) for E. The single positive smear approaches reduced the number of smears by 36% compared to approach A. CONCLUSION: Reducing the number of specimens and the positivity threshold to define a positive case increased the sensitivity of microscopy and reduced laboratory workload