Courage and Love in Badiou's Beckett

Reviw of Alain Badiou,On Beckett, ed. and trans. Nina Power and Alberto Toscano, Clinamen Press, Manchester, 2003. ISBN: 1903083 30Badiou's remarkable reading of Beckett seeks to deliver the work of this great writer from the grasp of existentialist phenomenological readings. However, I argue that Badiou#39;s reading of Beckett opens the way for a deeper consideration of the existential issues embedded in Badiou's own work and that this is most fruitfully approached by recalling the thought of Sartre

Investigating the prevalence of malnutrition, frailty and physical disability and the association between them amongst older care home residents

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition, frailty and physical disability are inter-related, more prevalent in the older population and increase the risk of adverse health outcomes. Thus, screening is essential, especially in the understudied care home setting where the population is vulnerable and at higher risk of malnutrition. Furthermore, prevalence may vary depending upon screening tools used. The aims of this study were to: 1) investigate the prevalence of 1) malnutrition risk using Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form (MNA-SF) and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), 2) frailty using the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), 3) physical disability using the Barthel Index (BI) and (4) examine the association between variables and coexistence of states. METHODS: Screening for malnutrition (MNA-SF and MUST) and frailty (EFS) was performed as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in 527 residents from 17 care homes in Lincoln, UK. Mean age of the group was 85.6 ± 7.6 years and body mass index, BMI 23.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2. RESULTS: A high prevalence of malnutrition risk was detected: 41.4% by MNA-SF and 25.5% by MUST (high risk/malnourished). Furthermore, there was a clear discordance between MNA-SF and MUST scoring of malnutrition; for example, the percentage of those identified as being at low risk was 18.8% using the MNA-SF and 57.0% using the MUST. In addition, there was a high prevalence of severe frailty by EFS (69.6%) and functional impairment by BI (62.0%). There was good association between some variables (P < 0.001) and 33.4% of residents had coexistence of all three states of malnutrition, frailty and physical disability. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition risk, frailty and physical disability are highly prevalent in care home residents and interrelated. However, prevalence varies depending on the screening tool used. More research should be conducted in the care home setting to improve daily clinical practice as screening may impact upon subsequent treatment and care modalities and clinical outcomes

Proposed instrumentation for PILOT

PILOT (the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope) is a proposed Australian/European optical/infrared telescope for Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau, with target first light in 2012. The proposed telescope is 2.4m diameter, with overall focal ratio f/10, and a 1 degree field-of-view. In median seeing conditions, it delivers 0.3" FWHM widefield image quality, from 0.7-2.5 microns. In the best quartile of conditions, it delivers diffraction-limited imaging down to 1 micron, or even less with lucky imaging. The areas where PILOT offers the greatest advantages over existing ground-based telescopes are (a) very high resolution optical imaging, (b) high resolution wide-field optical imaging, and (c) all wide-field thermal infrared imaging. The proposed first generation instrumentation consists of (a) a fast, lownoise camera for diffraction-limited optical lucky imaging; (b) a gigapixel optical camera for seeing-limited imaging over a 1 degree field; (c) a 4K × 4K near-infrared (1-5 micron) camera with both wide-field and diffraction-limited modes; and (d) a double-beamed mid-infrared (7-40 micron) imaging spectrograph

MERLIN radio detection of an interaction zone within a binary Orion proplyd system

Presented here are high angular resolution MERLIN 5 GHz (6 cm) continuum observations of the binary proplyd system, LV 1 in the Orion nebula, which consists of proplyd 168--326SE and its binary proplyd companion 168--326NW (separation 0.4 arcsec). Accurate astrometric alignment allows a detailed comparison between these data and published HST PC Halpha and [Oiii] images. Thermal radio sources coincide with the two proplyds and originate in the ionized photoevaporating flows seen in the optical emission lines. Flow velocities of approx 50 km/s from the ionized proplyd surfaces and \geq 100 km/s from a possible micro-jet have been detected using the Manchester Echelle spectrometer. A third radio source is found to coincide with a region of extended, high excitation, optical line emission that lies between the binary proplyds 168--326SE/326NW . This is modelled as a bowshock due to the collision of the photoevaporating flows from the two proplyds. Both a thermal and a non-thermal origin for the radio emission in this collision zone are considered.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, accepted by Ap

The prevalence of cubital tunnel syndrome: A cross-sectional study in a U.S. metropolitan cohort

BACKGROUND: Although cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common peripheral mononeuropathy (after carpal tunnel syndrome) encountered in clinical practice, its prevalence in the population is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cubital tunnel syndrome in the general population. METHODS: We surveyed a cohort of adult residents of the St. Louis metropolitan area to assess for the severity and localization of hand symptoms using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS) and the Katz hand diagram. We identified subjects who met our case definitions for cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome: self-reported hand symptoms associated with a BCTQ-SSS score of >2 and localization of symptoms to the ulnar nerve or median nerve distributions. RESULTS: Of 1,001 individuals who participated in the cross-sectional survey, 75% were women and 79% of the cohort was white; the mean age (and standard deviation) was 46 ± 15.7 years. Using a more sensitive case definition (lax criteria), we identified 59 subjects (5.9%) with cubital tunnel syndrome and 68 subjects (6.8%) with carpal tunnel syndrome. Using a more specific case definition (strict criteria), we identified 18 subjects (1.8%) with cubital tunnel syndrome and 27 subjects (2.7%) with carpal tunnel syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cubital tunnel syndrome in the general population may be higher than that reported previously. When compared with previous estimates of disease burden, the active surveillance technique used in this study may account for the higher reported prevalence. This finding suggests that a proportion of symptomatic subjects may not self-identify and may not seek medical treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This baseline estimate of prevalence for cubital tunnel syndrome provides a valuable reference for future diagnostic and prognostic study research and for the development of clinical practice guidelines

First detection of acceleration and deceleration in protostellar Jets? Time variability in the Chamaeleontis II outflows

Context. Kinematical and time variability studies of protostellar jets are fundamental for understanding the dynamics and the physics of these objects. Such studies remain very sporadic, since they require long baselines before they can be accomplished. Alms. We present for the first time a multi-epoch (20 years baseline) kinematical investigation of HH 52, 53, and 54 at optical and near-IR wavelengths, along with medium (optical) and high resolution (NIR) spectroscopic analyses, probing the kinematical and physical time variability conditions of the gas along the flows. Methods. By means of multi-epoch and multi-wavelength narrow-band images, we derived proper motions (PMs), tangential velocities, velocity and flux variability of the knots. Radial velocities and physical parameters of the gas were derived from spectroscopy. Finally, spatial velocities and inclination of the flows were obtained by combining both imaging and spectroscopy. Results. The PM analysis reveals three distinct, partially overlapping outflows. Spatial velocities of the knots vary from 50 km s -1 to 120 km s-1. The inclinations of the three flows are 58 ± 3°, 84 ± 2°, and 67 ± 3° (HH 52, HH 53, and HH 54 flows, respectively). In 20 years, about 60% of the observed knots show some degree of flux variability. Our set of observations apparently indicates acceleration and deceleration in a variety of knots along the jets. For about 20% of the knots, mostly coincident with working surfaces or interacting knots along the flows, a relevant variability in both flux and velocity is observed. We argue that both variabilities are related and that all or part of the kinetic energy lost by the interacting knots is successively radiated. The physical parameters derived from the diagnostics are quite homogeneous along and among the three outflows. The analysis indicates the presence of very light (NH � 103 cm-3), ionised (Te,. � 0.2-0.6), and hot (Te � 14000-26000 K) flows, impacting a denser medium. Several knots are deflected, especially in the HH 52 flow. At least for a couple of them (HH 54 G and GO), the deflection originates from the collision of the two. For the more massive parts of the flow, the deflection is likely the result of the flow collision with a dense cloud or with clumps. Finally, we discuss the possible driving sources of the flows. ©ESO 2009

Symmetric-Asymmetric transition in mixtures of Bose-Einstein condensates

We propose a new kind of quantum phase transition in phase separated mixtures of Bose-Einstein condensates. In this transition, the distribution of the two components changes from a symmetric to an asymmetric shape. We discuss the nature of the phase transition, the role of interface tension and the phase diagram. The symmetric to asymmetric transition is the simplest quantum phase transition that one can imagine. Careful study of this problem should provide us new insight into this burgeoning field of discovery.Comment: 6 pages, 3 eps figure

Modelling Dynamic Photovoltaic Arrays for Marine Applications

This paper presents a new simulator platform with findings from experiments aiming to identify the electrical characteristics of a marine vessel covered in photovoltaic modules, operating in various sea conditions. More specifically, we show that by giving a solar array the ability to reconfigure the arrangement of its modules in real time, that significant improvements (up to 50%) in power yield can be achieved compared to typical static arrays. A bespoke MATLAB simulator has been developed in order to model the complex interplay between the electrical arrangement of photovoltaic modules, the position of the photovoltaic modules on the vessel, the vessel’s tilting motion on the surface of the sea and the resultant irradiance based on the position of the Sun in the sky. Our approach allows the user to define these factors using a simple and intuitive graphical user interface so that a range of scenarios can be quickly simulated. We have used a basic test strategy that allows us to measure the effectiveness of different arrays and quantify performance in terms of mean output power and power stability over a range of sea conditions. A key factor in the effectiveness of the use of marine survey vessels is their ability to remain at sea for extended periods, preferably avoiding the use of high-carbon fuel sources such as diesel generators. This is of particular importance when observing marine life as the platform needs to operate as quietly as possible. The ASV Global C-Enduro autonomous, self-righting platform is the initial application for this new energy harvesting system, with the aim to extend mission endurance. A second case study has also been performed in parallel with this, using a much more divergent orientation of onboard photovoltaic modules in order to asses the ability for a dynamic photovoltaic array to increase and stabilise power output.<br/

Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope results from ODP Leg 187: Evidence for mantle dynamics of the Australian-Antarctic Discordance and origin of the Indian MORB source

New high precision PIMMS Hf and Pb isotope data for 14–28 Ma basalts recovered during ODP Leg 187 are compared with zero-age dredge samples from the Australian-Antarctic Discordance (AAD). These new data show that combined Nd-Hf isotope systematics can be used as an effective discriminant between Indian and Pacific MORB source mantle domains. In particular, Indian mantle is displaced to lower εNd and higher εHf ratios compared to Pacific mantle. As with Pb isotope plots, there is almost no overlap between the two mantle types in Nd-Hf isotope space. On the basis of our new Nd-Hf isotope data, we demonstrate that Pacific MORB-source mantle was present near the eastern margin of the AAD from as early as 28 Ma, its boundary with Indian MORB-source mantle coinciding with the eastern edge of a basin-wide arcuate depth anomaly that is centered on the AAD. This observation rules out models requiring rapid migration of Pacific MORB mantle into the Indian Ocean basin since separation of Australia from Antarctica. Although temporal variations in isotopic composition can be discerned relative to the fracture zone boundary of the modern AAD at 127°E, the distribution of different compositional groups appears to have remained much the same relative to the position of the residual depth anomaly for the past 30 m.y. Thus significant lateral flow of mantle along the ridge axis toward the interface appears unlikely. Instead, the dynamics that maintain both the residual depth anomaly and the isotopic boundary between Indian and Pacific mantle are due to eastward migration of the Australian and Antarctic plates over a stagnated, but slowly upwelling, slab oriented roughly orthogonal to the ridge axis. Temporal and spatial variations in the compositions of Indian MORB basalts within the AAD can be explained by progressive displacement of shallower Indian MORB-source mantle by deeper mantle having a higher εHf composition ascending ahead of the upwelling slab. Models for the origin of the distinctive composition of the Indian MORB-source based on recycling of a heterogeneous enriched component that consist of ancient altered ocean crust plus<10% pelagic sediment are inconsistent with Nd-Hf isotope systematics. Instead, the data can be explained by a model in which Indian mantle includes a significant proportion of material that was processed in the mantle wedge above a subduction zone and was subsequently mixed back into unprocessed upper mantle

Identification of Melatonin-Regulated Genes in the Ovine Pituitary Pars Tuberalis, a Target Site for Seasonal Hormone Control

The pars tuberalis (PT) of the pituitary gland expresses a high density of melatonin (MEL) receptors and is believed to regulate seasonal physiology by decoding changes in nocturnal melatonin secretion. Circadian clock genes are known to be expressed in the PT in response to the decline (Per1) and onset (Cry1) of MEL secretion, but to date little is known of other molecular changes in this key MEL target site. To identify transcriptional pathways that may be involved in the diurnal and photoperiod-transduction mechanism, we performed a whole genome transcriptome analysis using PT RNA isolated from sheep culled at three time points over the 24-h cycle under either long or short photoperiods. Our results reveal 153 transcripts where expression differs between photoperiods at the light-dark transition and 54 transcripts where expression level was more globally altered by photoperiod (all time points combined). Cry1 induction at night was associated with up-regulation of genes coding for NeuroD1 (neurogenic differentiation factor 1), Pbef / Nampt (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase) , Hif1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α), and Kcnq5 (K channel) and down-regulation of Rorβ, a key clock gene regulator. Using in situ hybridization, we confirmed day-night differences in expression for Pbef / Nampt, NeuroD1, and Rorβ in the PT. Treatment of sheep with MEL increased PT expression for Cry1, Pbef / Nampt, NeuroD1, and Hif1α, but not Kcnq5. Our data thus reveal a cluster of Cry1-associated genes that are acutely responsive to MEL and novel transcriptional pathways involved in MEL action in the PT