Application of Ion Cyclotron Resonance to the Study of Inelastic Excitation by Low-Energy Electrons

The geometry of the resonance cell employed for ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy (1-3) is ideally suited for studying inelastic excitation by low-energy electrons. It has been shown that the electron beam traverses a parabolic potential well between the trapping electrodes, the depth of which is approximately half the applied trapping voltage (3,4). Low-energy electrons generated by impact excitation of an atomic or molecular energy level can be trapped in the resonance cell if their final translational energy is insufficient to escape the preset depth of the potential well. These electrons can be drifted from the source of the resonance region by applying the usual static drift field E normal to the primary magnetic field H (4). The electron drift velocity in this crossed field geometry, given by cE/H, is independent of both charge and mass. For typical values of E and H the drift velocity is in the range of 10^1-10^3 cm/sec. In the lower range of accessible drift velocities, the residence time of electrons in the resonance cell approaches 0.1 sec

The Changing Narratives of Death, Dying, and HIV in the United Kingdom

Death and infection were closely linked from the start of the HIV epidemic, until successful treatments became available. The initial impact of mostly young, gay men dying from HIV was powerful in shaping UK responses. Neoliberal discourses developed at the same time, particularly focusing on how citizens (rather than the state) should take responsibility to improve health. Subsequently “successful ageing” became an allied discourse, further marginalising death discussions. Our study reflected on a broad range of meanings around death within the historical UK epidemic, to examine how dying narratives shape contemporary HIV experiences. Fifty-one participants including people living with HIV, professionals, and activists were recruited for semistructured interviews. Assuming a symbolic interactionist framework, analysis highlighted how HIV deaths were initially experienced as not only traumatic but also energizing, leading to creativity. With effective antiretrovirals, dying changed shape (e.g., loss of death literacy), and better integration of palliative care was recommended

A regulatory framework for nanotechnology

Presently, the regulatory framework for nanotechnology consists of regulating entities addressing concerns about nanotechnology under existing rules and laws. This thesis answers this question: How can regulatory decisions of policymakers regarding the framework of nanotechnology regulation be informed by a map of the regulatory landscape of nanotechnology and a review of the regulatory frameworks for the aviation and biotechnology industries? To make recommendations about the appropriate regulatory framework for nanotechnology, this thesis reviews the existing regulatory frameworks of aviation and biotechnology and maps the regulatory landscape in the United States by examining stakeholders, regulatory entities, and applicable legislation. The landscape map and review of existing regulatory frameworks reveal that the established regulatory framework could be sufficient for the current state of nanotechnology if the limitations of technical expertise are addressed. This expertise can be provided by advisory committees of technical and industry experts to the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.http://archive.org/details/aregulatoryframe1094558356Assistant Senior Watch Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Operations CenterApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

An Unbiased Survey for Outflows in the W3 and W5 Star-Formation Regions

During their birth all stars undergo periods of copious mass loss, frequently characterized by the occurrence of bipolar outflows. These outflows are believed to play a fundamental role in the star formation process. However the exact outflow generating method is obscure at present. To elucidate this problem we are investigating whether the flow properties are correlated over the entire protostellar mass spectrum. Progress in this area requires that we assemble a statistically valid sample of high-mass outflow systems. This is necessary since existing catalogues of such objects are heterogeneous and statistically incomplete.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, uses newpasp.sty. To appear in "Hot Star Workshop III: The Earliest Phases of Massive Star Birth" (ed. P.A. Crowther

The Near-Infrared Extinction Law in Regions of High Av

We present a spectroscopic study of the shape of the dust-extinction law between 1.0 and 2.2um towards a set of nine ultracompact HII regions with Av > 15 mag. We find some evidence that the reddening curve may tend to flatten at higher extinctions, but just over half of the sample has extinction consistent with or close to the average for the interstellar medium. There is no evidence of extinction curves significantly steeper than the standard law, even where water ice is present. Comparing the results to the predictions of a simple extinction model, we suggest that a standard extinction law implies a robust upper limit to the grain-size distribution at around 0.1 - 0.3um. Flatter curves are most likely due to changes in this upper limit, although the effects of flattening due to unresolved clumpy extinction cannot be ruled out.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Addressing Ethical Issues in Studying Men’s Traumatic Stress

Like many human experiences, traumatic stress is highly gendered. Over the past several decades, a sub-stantial number of empirical studies have explored ethical issues in traumatic stress research. However, these studies have typically reported female samples or failed to account for the influence of gender in their analyses of mixed-sex samples. By extension, ethical issues that are relevant to male participants in traumatic stress research are poorly understood. After briefly exploring why the vulnerabilities of male participants are under-explored in traumatic stress research, this article highlights many ethical issues that are important to address when men participate in traumatic stress research, concluding with some sugges-tions for how these might be taken up to advance the field

Users` experiences of heroin and methadone treatment

The present study, conducted in 2003, Melbourne, Australia, examined and compared how different personal and social resources related to participants\u27 use of both heroin and methadone, as well as their experiences of stigma and program regulation, and their evaluation of methadone treatment. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 participants (five men, five women) aged between 25 and 42. Participants who had diverse personal and social circumstances were purposefully sought. Findings showed that users with &ldquo;non-addict&rdquo; or &ldquo;functional&rdquo; self-concepts had more resources and supportive social relationships that assisted them to develop realistic treatment expectations, avoid the stigma associated with methadone, and focus on the benefits of the treatment. Conversely, &ldquo;conflicted&rdquo; users with limited resources, few social connections, and negative self-concept saw methadone as an addiction, and as a highly stigmatizing and disempowering intervention. Social policies that differentiate users and address ways of improving users\u27 personal and social resources are now needed.<br /

Ageing with HIV

Applying Fraser’s inequalities framework to our UK-based HIV and Later Life (HALL) study, we show that, for the growing population of older people living with HIV (PLWH), HIV intersects with ethnicity, sex, sexuality, stigma, and ageism to produce bivalent identities. These shape their experience of ageing with HIV and intersect with economic factors, the social status order, and statutory policy to subject them to socioeconomic and cultural injustices only roughly captured by Fraser’s three domains of inequality. Under recognition, the stigmatization of HIV and its exacerbation by normative ageist expectations threaten social relationships. Under resources, older PLWH’s disproportionate financial disadvantage, linked to interrupted work histories, uncertain migration status, and recent changes to benefits on which PLWH are disproportionately reliant and whose new criteria disadvantage them, make access to support from others living with HIV and from HIV organizations even more essential for mental health and wellbeing. Finally, under representation, stigma and homophobia in care settings may undermine the quality of long-term care, and defunding of HIV organizations and welfare benefit changes via neo-liberal policies and austerity measures create political disenfranchisement and barriers to social participation. Thus, Fraser’s clear-cut domains imperfectly capture factors undermining underlying causes of older PLWH’s disadvantage: HIV-specific supports (resources) established to compensate for difficulties emanating from Fraser’s recognition and resources domains are increasingly threatened by agents operating within Fraser’s representation domain. Our conclusion considers other sources of older PLWH’s underrepresentation: their waning participation in activism and advocacy on their own behalf, and inadequate attention by non-HIV organizations

‘As soon as you've been there, it makes it personal’: The experience of health-care staff shadowing patients at the end of life

Background Patient shadowing is an experiential technique intended to enable those who shadow to understand care experience from the patient's point of view. It is used in quality improvement to bring about change that focuses on what is important for patients. Aim To explore the acceptability of patient shadowing for health-care staff, the impact of the experience and subsequent motivations to make improvements. Method A qualitative study with a diverse sample of 20 clinical and non-clinical health-care staff in different end-of-life settings. Data were analysed thematically. Results Anticipated anxieties about shadowing did not materialize in participant accounts, although for some it was a deeply emotional experience, intensified by being with patients who were at the end of life. Shadowing not only impacted on participants personally, but also promoted better insights into the experience of patients, thus focusing their improvement efforts. Participants reported that patients and families who were shadowed welcomed additional caring attention. Conclusion With the right preparation and support, patient shadowing is a technique that engages and motivates health-care staff to improve patient-centred care