The transport of nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere by planetary waves and the zonal mean circulation

A time-dependent numerical model was developed and used to study the interaction between planetary waves, the zonal mean circulation, and the trace constituent nitric oxide in the region between 55 km and 120 km. The factors which contribute to the structure of the nitric oxide distribution were examined, and the sensitivity of the distribution to changes in planetary wave amplitude was investigated. Wave-induced changes in the mean nitric oxide concentration were examined as a possible mechanism for the observed winter anomaly. Results indicate that vertically-propagating planetary waves induce a wave-like structure in the nitric oxide distribution and that at certain levels, transports of nitric oxide by planetary waves could significantly affect the mean nitric oxide distribution. The magnitude and direction of these transports at a given level was found to depend not only on the amplitude of the planetary wave, but also on the loss rate of nitric oxide at that level

Radio Galaxy Zoo: The Distortion of Radio Galaxies by Galaxy Clusters

We study the impact of cluster environment on the morphology of a sample of 4304 extended radio galaxies from Radio Galaxy Zoo. A total of 87% of the sample lies within a projected 15 Mpc of an optically identified cluster. Brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are more likely than other cluster members to be radio sources, and are also moderately bent. The surface density as a function of separation from cluster center of non-BCG radio galaxies follows a power law with index $-1.10\pm 0.03$ out to $10~r_{500}$ ($\sim 7~$Mpc), which is steeper than the corresponding distribution for optically selected galaxies. Non-BCG radio galaxies are statistically more bent the closer they are to the cluster center. Within the inner $1.5~r_{500}$ ($\sim 1~$Mpc) of a cluster, non-BCG radio galaxies are statistically more bent in high-mass clusters than in low-mass clusters. Together, we find that non-BCG sources are statistically more bent in environments that exert greater ram pressure. We use the orientation of bent radio galaxies as an indicator of galaxy orbits and find that they are preferentially in radial orbits. Away from clusters, there is a large population of bent radio galaxies, limiting their use as cluster locators; however, they are still located within statistically overdense regions. We investigate the asymmetry in the tail length of sources that have their tails aligned along the radius vector from the cluster center, and find that the length of the inward-pointing tail is weakly suppressed for sources close to the center of the cluster.Comment: 23 pages, 17 figures, 2 tables. Supplemental data files available in The Astronomical Journal or contact autho

Learning to prescribe - pharmacists' experiences of supplementary prescribing training in England

Background: The introduction of non-medical prescribing for professions such as pharmacy and nursing in recent years offers additional responsibilities and opportunities but attendant training issues. In the UK and in contrast to some international models, becoming a non-medical prescriber involves the completion of an accredited training course offered by many higher education institutions, where the skills and knowledge necessary for prescribing are learnt. Aims: to explore pharmacists' perceptions and experiences of learning to prescribe on supplementary prescribing (SP) courses, particularly in relation to inter-professional learning, course content and subsequent use of prescribing in practice. Methods: A postal questionnaire survey was sent to all 808 SP registered pharmacists in England in April 2007, exploring demographic, training, prescribing, safety culture and general perceptions of SP. Results: After one follow-up, 411 (51%) of pharmacists responded. 82% agreed SP training was useful, 58% agreed courses provided appropriate knowledge and 62% agreed that the necessary prescribing skills were gained. Clinical examination, consultation skills training and practical experience with doctors were valued highly; pharmacology training and some aspects of course delivery were criticised. Mixed views on inter-professional learning were reported – insights into other professions being valued but knowledge and skills differences considered problematic. 67% believed SP and recent independent prescribing (IP) should be taught together, with more diagnostic training wanted; few pharmacists trained in IP, but many were training or intending to train. There was no association between pharmacists' attitudes towards prescribing training and when they undertook training between 2004 and 2007 but earlier cohorts were more likely to be using supplementary prescribing in practice. Conclusion: Pharmacists appeared to value their SP training and suggested improvements that could inform future courses. The benefits of inter-professional learning, however, may conflict with providing professionspecific training. SP training may be perceived to be an instrumental 'stepping stone' in pharmacists' professional project of gaining full IP status

Observation of New States Decaying into Λc+π−π+\Lambda_{c}^{+}\pi^{-}\pi^{+}

Using 13.7 fb^{-1} of data recorded by the CLEO detector at CESR, we investigate the spectrum of charmed baryons which decay into Lambda_c^+ pi^- pi^+ and are more massive than the Lambda_{c1} baryons. We find evidence for two new states: one is broad and has an invariant mass roughly 480 MeV above that of the Lambda_c^+; the other is narrow with an invariant mass of 596 +- 1 +- 2 MeV above the Lambda_c^+ mass. These results are preliminary.Comment: 11 pages postscript, also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

The response of mental health professionals to clients seeking help to change or redirect same-sex sexual orientation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>we know very little about mental health practitioners' views on treatments to change sexual orientation. Our aim was to survey a representative sample of professional members of the main United Kingdom psychotherapy and psychiatric organisations about their views and practices concerning such treatments.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We sent postal questions to mental health professionals who were members of British Psychological Society, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Participants were asked to give their views about treatments to change homosexual desires and describe up to five patients each, whom they has treated in this way.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 1848 practitioners contacted, 1406 questionnaires were returned and 1328 could be analysed. Although only 55 (4%) of therapists reported that they would attempt to change a client's sexual orientation if one consulted asking for such therapy, 222 (17%) reported having assisted at least one client/patient to reduce or change his or her homosexual or lesbian feelings. 413 patients were described by these 222 therapists: 213 (52%) were seen in private practice and 117 (28%) were not followed up beyond the period of treatment. Counselling was the commonest (66%) treatment offered and there was no sign of a decline in treatments in recent years. 159 (72%) of the 222 therapists who had provided such treatment considered that a service should be available for people who want to change their sexual orientation. Client/patient distress and client/patient autonomy were seen as reasons for intervention; therapists paid attention to religious, cultural and moral values causing internal conflict.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A significant minority of mental health professionals are attempting to help lesbian, gay and bisexual clients to become heterosexual. Given lack of evidence for the efficacy of such treatments, this is likely to be unwise or even harmful.</p

First Observation of the Σc∗+\Sigma_{c}^{*+} Baryon and a New Measurement of the Σc+\Sigma_{c}^{+} Mass

Using data recorded with the CLEO II and CLEO II.V detector configurations at the Cornell Electron Storage Rings, we report the first observation and mass measurement of the $\Sigma_c^{*+}$ charmed baryon, and an updated measurement of the mass of the $\Sigma_c^+$ baryon. We find $M(\Sigma_c^{*+})-M(\Lambda_c^+)$= 231.0 +- 1.1 +- 2.0 MeV, and $M(\Sigma_c^{+})-M(\Lambda_c^+)$= 166.4 +- 0.2 +- 0.3 MeV, where the errors are statistical and systematic respectively.Comment: 8 pages postscript, also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Investigation of Semileptonic BB Meson Decay to P-Wave Charm Mesons

We have studied semileptonic $B$ meson decays with a P-wave charm meson in the final state using 3.29 x 10^6 B\bar{B} events collected by the CLEO~II detector at the Cornell Electron-positron Storage Ring. We find a value for the exclusive semileptonic product branching fraction: Br(B^- -> D_1^0 l^- \bar{\nu}) x Br(D_1^0 -> D^{*+}\pi^-) = (0.373 \pm 0.085 \pm 0.052 \pm 0.024)% and an upper limit for Br(B^- -> D_2^{*0} l^- \bar{\nu}) x Br(D_2^{*0} -> D^{*+}\pi^-) < 0.16%$ (90% C.L.). These results indicate that at least 20% of the total B^- semileptonic rate is unaccounted for by the observed exclusive decays, B^- -> D^0 l^- \bar{\nu}, B^- -> D^{*0} l^- \bar{\nu}, B^- -> D_1^0 l^- \bar{\nu}, and B^- -> D_2^{*0} l^- \bar{\nu}.Comment: 10 page postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Observation of Two Narrow States Decaying into Ξc+γ\Xi_{c}^{+}\gamma and Ξc0γ\Xi_{c}^{0}\gamma

We report the first observation of two narrow charmed strange baryons decaying to $\Xi_c^+\gamma$ and $\Xi_c^0\gamma$, respectively, using data from the CLEO II detector at CESR. We interpret the observed signals as the $\Xi_c^{+\prime}(c{su})$ and $\Xi_c^{0\prime}(c{sd})$, the symmetric partners of the well-established antisymmetric $\Xi_c^+(c[su])$ and $\Xi_c^0(c[sd])$. The mass differences $M(\Xi_c^{+\prime})-M(\Xi_c^+)$ and $M(\Xi_c^{0\prime})-M(\Xi_c^0)$ are measured to be $107.8\pm 1.7\pm 2.5$ and $107.0\pm 1.4\pm 2.5 MeV/c^2$, respectively.Comment: 11 pages, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN

Measurements of the Ratios B(Ds+→ηℓ+ν)/B(Ds+→ϕℓ+ν){\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta\ell^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to \phi\ell^+\nu) and B(Ds+→η′ℓ+ν)/B(Ds+→ϕℓ+ν){\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta'\ell^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to \phi\ell^+\nu)

Using the CLEO~II detector we measure ${\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta e^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to \phi e^+\nu) =1.24\pm0.12\pm0.15$, ${\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta' e^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to \phi e^+\nu) =0.43\pm0.11\pm0.07$ and ${\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta' e^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to \eta e^+\nu) =0.35\pm0.09\pm0.07$. We find the vector to pseudoscalar ratio, ${\cal B}(D_s^+\to \phi e^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D_s^+\to (\eta+\eta') e^+\nu) =0.60\pm0.06\pm0.06$, which is similar to the ratio found in non strange $D$ decays.Comment: 11 page uuencoded postscript file, postscript file also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLN