2,356 research outputs found
Andrew I. Thompson - From Tragedy to Policy: Representations of Muslims and Islam in U.S. Mainstream Media
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th came a flood of criticism of Islam and Muslims in the U.S. media. Many saw Islam as the root cause of the attacks, but failed to assess the political or social issues in the Middle East, or even the United Statesâ role in the region. An example of this is the New York Timesâ section that ran immediately after the attacks entitled âA Nation Challenged,â which included titles such as: âYes, this is about Islam,â âThis is a religious war,â âBarbarians at the gate,â and âThe one true faith.â This project analyzes the mainstream print mediaâsâNew York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, and USA Todayârepresentation of Muslims and Islam from September 11, 2001 to December 31, 2001 and its relation to U.S. foreign policy. My assertion is that the mainstream media employed rhetorical emulating, and sometimes mimicking, of Samuel Huntingtonâs Clash of Civilizations theory when representing Muslims and Islam, which in turn supported aggressive military action in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In support of my assertion, I find that Huntingtonâs clash of civilizations absolves the US of all guilt regarding the attacks. Once the theory is adopted it becomes a given, something intrinsic to politics, thus making the âclashâ seem inevitable. The Clash of Civilizations theory also supports aggressive military action because of the implicit and explicit denunciation of all âcivilizationsâ that are not âWestern.âhttps://epublications.marquette.edu/mcnair_2013/1016/thumbnail.jp
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Cnemidophorus hyperythrus
Number of Pages: 6Integrative BiologyGeological Science
Charge-ice dynamics in the negative thermal expansion material Cd(CN)
We use variable-temperature (150--300\,K) single-crystal X-ray diffraction to
re-examine the interplay between structure and dynamics in the ambient phase of
the isotropic negative thermal expansion (NTE) material Cd(CN). We find
strong experimental evidence for the existence of low-energy vibrational modes
that involve off-centering of Cd ions. These modes have the effect of
increasing network packing density---suggesting a mechanism for NTE that is
different to the generally-accepted picture of correlated Cd(C/N) rotation
modes. Strong local correlations in the displacement directions of neighbouring
cadmium centres are evident in the existence of highly-structured diffuse
scattering in the experimental X-ray diffraction patterns. Monte Carlo
simulations suggest these patterns might be interpreted in terms of a basic set
of `ice-rules' that establish a mapping between the dynamics of Cd(CN) and
proton ordering in cubic ice VII.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Autonomous sampling of ocean submesoscale fronts with ocean gliders and numerical model forecasting
Submesoscale fronts arising from mesoscale stirring are ubiquitous in the ocean and have a strong impact on upper-ocean dynamics. This work presents a method for optimizing the sampling of ocean fronts with autonomous vehicles at meso- and submesoscales, based on a combination of numerical forecast and autonomous planning. This method uses a 48-h forecast from a real-time high-resolution data-assimilative primitive equation ocean model, feature detection techniques, and a planner that controls the observing platform. The method is tested in Monterey Bay, off the coast of California, during a 9-day experiment focused on sampling subsurface thermohaline-compensated structures using a Seaglider as the ocean observing platform. Based on model estimations, the sampling âgain,â defined as the magnitude of isopycnal tracer variability sampled, is 50% larger in the feature-chasing case with respect to a non-feature-tracking scenario. The ability of the model to reproduce, in space and time, thermohaline submesoscale features is evaluated by quantitatively comparing the model and glider results. The model reproduces the vertical (~50â200 m thick) and lateral (~5â20 km) scales of subsurface subducting fronts and near-bottom features observed in the glider data. The differences between model and glider data are, in part, attributed to the selected glider optimal interpolation parameters and to uncertainties in the forecasting of the location of the structures. This method can be exported to any place in the ocean where high-resolution data-assimilative model output is available, and it allows for the incorporation of multiple observing platforms
Autonomous sampling of ocean submesoscale fronts with ocean gliders and numerical model forecasting
Submesoscale fronts arising from mesoscale stirring are ubiquitous in the ocean and have a strong impact on upper-ocean dynamics. This work presents a method for optimizing the sampling of ocean fronts with autonomous vehicles at meso- and submesoscales, based on a combination of numerical forecast and autonomous planning. This method uses a 48-h forecast from a real-time high-resolution data-assimilative primitive equation ocean model, feature detection techniques, and a planner that controls the observing platform. The method is tested in Monterey Bay, off the coast of California, during a 9-day experiment focused on sampling subsurface thermohaline-compensated structures using a Seaglider as the ocean observing platform. Based on model estimations, the sampling âgain,â defined as the magnitude of isopycnal tracer variability sampled, is 50% larger in the feature-chasing case with respect to a non-feature-tracking scenario. The ability of the model to reproduce, in space and time, thermohaline submesoscale features is evaluated by quantitatively comparing the model and glider results. The model reproduces the vertical (~50â200 m thick) and lateral (~5â20 km) scales of subsurface subducting fronts and near-bottom features observed in the glider data. The differences between model and glider data are, in part, attributed to the selected glider optimal interpolation parameters and to uncertainties in the forecasting of the location of the structures. This method can be exported to any place in the ocean where high-resolution data-assimilative model output is available, and it allows for the incorporation of multiple observing platforms
Identifying culturally appropriate strategies for coronary heart disease secondary prevention in a regional Aboriginal Medical Service
Aboriginal Australians experience high rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) at an early age, highlighting the importance of effective secondary prevention. This study employed a two-stage process to evaluate CHD management in a regional Aboriginal Medical Service. Stage 1 involved an audit of 94 medical records of clients with documented CHD using the Audit and Best Practice in Chronic Disease approach to health service quality improvement. Results from the audit informed themes for focus group discussions with Aboriginal Medical Service clients (n = 6) and staff (n = 6) to ascertain barriers and facilitators to CHD management. The audit identified that chronic disease management was the focus of appointments more frequently than in national data (P < 0.05), with brief interventions for lifestyle modification occurring at similar or greater frequency. However, referrals to follow-up support services for secondary prevention were lower (P < 0.05). Focus groups identified psychosocial factors, systemic shortcomings, suboptimal medication use and variable awareness of CHD signs and symptoms as barriers to CHD management, whereas family support and culturally appropriate education promoted health care. To optimise CHD secondary prevention for Aboriginal people, health services require adequate resources to achieve best-practice systems of follow up. Routinely engaging clients is required to ensure services meet diverse community needs
Melatonin Supplementation Improves Glycemic Control While Lowering Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on glycemic control and oxidative stress (OS) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Fourteen subjects with T2D (10 female, 4 male; 52.5 ± 5.0 years) were randomly assigned to melatonin (MEL) or placebo groups (PLA) for 42 days, in a crossover design. Subjects ingested 10 mg of MEL or an identical placebo (PLA) 30 minutes prior to sleep. Fasting blood draws occurred at baseline, 42 days, and 84 days. Plasma malondialdehyde, a marker of OS, significantly decreased on MEL (-6.25±2.10 nmol/ml) compared to PLA (0.72±3.30, p=0.028). The change in hemoglobin A1c showed a total improvement of 0.33% following MEL supplementation compared to PLA (-0.24±0.23 % for MEL vs. 0.09±0.21 % for PLA, p=0.01), although no significant changes were noted in fasting plasma glucose or lipid levels. Daily melatonin may diminish OS and enhance glycemic control in adults with T2D
Stellar Explosions by Magnetic Towers
We propose a magnetic mechanism for the collimated explosion of a massive
star relevant for GRBs, XRFs and asymmetric supernovae. We apply Lynden-Bell's
magnetic tower scenario to the interior of a massive rotating star after the
core has collapsed to form a black hole with an accretion disk or a millisecond
magnetar acting as a central engine. We solve the force-free Grad-Shafranov
equation to calculate the magnetic structure and growth of a tower embedded in
a stellar environment. The pressure of the toroidal magnetic field,
continuously generated by differential rotation of the central engine, drives a
rapid expansion which becomes vertically collimated after lateral force balance
with the surrounding gas pressure is reached. The collimation naturally occurs
because hoop stress concentrates magnetic field toward the rotation axis and
inhibits lateral expansion. This leads to the growth of a self-collimated
magnetic tower. When embedded in a massive star, the supersonic expansion of
the tower drives a strong bow shock behind which an over-pressured cocoon
forms. The cocoon confines the tower by supplying collimating pressure and
provides stabilization against disruption due to MHD instabilities. Because the
tower consists of closed field lines starting and ending on the central engine,
mixing of baryons from the cocoon into the tower is suppressed. The channel
cleared by the growing tower is thus plausibly free of baryons and allows the
escape of magnetic energy from the central engine through the star. While
propagating down the stellar density gradient, the tower accelerates and
becomes relativistic. During the expansion, fast collisionless reconnection
becomes possible resulting in dissipation of magnetic energy which may be
responsible for GRB prompt emission.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted to ApJ, updated references and
additional discussion adde
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