Fe XXV and Fe XXVI Diagnostics of the Black Hole and Accretion Disk in Active Galaxies: Chandra Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of NGC 7314

We report the detection of Fe XXV and Fe XXVI $K\alpha$ emission lines from a Chandra HETGS observation of the Seyfert~1 galaxy NGC 7314, made simultaneously with RXTE. The lines are redshifted (cz ~ 1500 km/s) relative to the systemic velocity and unresolved. We argue that the lines originate in a near face-on (<7 degrees) disk having a radial line emissivity flatter than r^-2. Line emission from ionization states of Fe in the range ~Fe I up to Fe XXVI is observed. The ionization balance of Fe responds to continuum variations on timescales less than 12.5 ks, supporting an origin of the lines close to the X-ray source. We present additional, detailed diagnostics from this rich data set. These results identify NGC 7314 as a key source to study in the future if we are to pursue reverberation mapping of space-time near black-hole event horizons. This is because it is first necessary to understand the ionization structure of accretion disks and the relation between the X-ray continuum and Fe K line emission. However, we also describe how our results are suggestive of a means of measuring black-hole spin without a knowledge of the relation between the continuum and line emission. Finally, these data emphasize that one {\it can} study strong gravity with narrow (as opposed to very broad) disk lines. In fact narrow lines offer higher precision, given sufficient energy resolution.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 30 pages, six figures, five of them color. Abstract is abridge

Chandra X-ray spectroscopy of the focused wind in the Cygnus X-1 system III. Dipping in the low/hard state

We present an analysis of three Chandra High Energy Transmission Gratings observations of the black hole binary Cyg X-1/HDE 226868 at different orbital phases. The stellar wind that is powering the accretion in this system is characterized by temperature and density inhomogeneities including structures, or "clumps", of colder, more dense material embedded in the photoionized gas. As these clumps pass our line of sight, absorption dips appear in the light curve. We characterize the properties of the clumps through spectral changes during various dip stages. Comparing the silicon and sulfur absorption line regions (1.6-2.7 keV $\equiv$ 7.7-4.6 {\AA}) in four levels of varying column depth reveals the presence of lower ionization stages, i.e., colder or denser material, in the deeper dip phases. The Doppler velocities of the lines are roughly consistent within each observation, varying with the respective orbital phase. This is consistent with the picture of a structure that consists of differently ionized material, in which shells of material facing the black hole shield the inner and back shells from the ionizing radiation. The variation of the Doppler velocities compared to a toy model of the stellar wind, however, does not allow us to pin down an exact location of the clump region in the system. This result, as well as the asymmetric shape of the observed lines, point at a picture of a complex wind structure.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Trust in Media, Institutions, and Health Information in Metropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results

Overall, most metropolitan Nebraskans have confidence in their local institutions (public safety agencies in their community, public schools in their community, and voting and election systems in their county). However, many have very little confidence in many national institutions (the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Presidency) as well as the Governor. Metropolitan Nebraskans most trust information received from friends/family/ acquaintances, local news sources (TV and newspapers), public sources (PBS and public radio) and state newspapers. They least trust information from social networking sites, Internet blogs, and Fox News. Most metropolitan Nebraskans trust local health professionals for reliable information on the coronavirus. Over nine in ten trust their doctor or other health care professional either some or a lot and just over three-quarters trust their local health department for reliable information on the coronavirus. At least seven in ten trust the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state public health officials. Most metropolitan Nebraskans favor having health professionals being the primary authority for public health decisions. Just over four in ten support having local health departments being the primary authority for public health decisions while one-third favor having state health departments as the primary authority. Less than one in ten metropolitan Nebraskans think either local or state government should be the primary authority for public health decisions

Life in Nonmetropolitan Nebraskan Communities: 2021 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Rural Nebraskans are less positive about the current change and expected future change in their communities this year. The proportion believing their community has changed for the better has typically been greater than the proportion believing it has changed for the worse. However, this year the proportion believing their community changed for the worse was slightly more than the proportion believing it had changed for the better (similar to what occurred in 2003 and 2009). The proportion viewing positive change in their community sharply declined from last year. The proportion believing their community has stayed the same increased sharply. Despite that, rural Nebraskans are positive about their community by many different measures. Most rural Nebraskans rate their community favorably on its social dimensions, as friendly, trusting and supportive. Most rural Nebraskans also say it would be difficult to leave their community and have a positive attachment to their community. Finally, most rural Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its future. Differences in perceptions of their community are evident by community size. Residents of larger communities are more likely than residents of smaller communities to say their community has changed for the better during the past year and will be a better place to live ten years from now. However, persons living in or near the smallest communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to rate their community as friendly, trusting and supportive. And, persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to get what they need in their community. However, persons living in or near the smallest communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to have an attachment to their community. Except for some services that are largely unavailable in rural communities, rural Nebraskans are generally satisfied with basic community services and amenities. However, the proportion of rural Nebraskans satisfied with many social services and entertainment services has decreased during the past 20 years. Declines in satisfaction levels across the past 20 years occur with nursing home care, medical care services, senior centers, mental health services and retail shopping. Some rural Nebraskans say that transgender people, gays and lesbians, recent immigrants to the U.S. and liberals are discriminated against in their community

Life in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Nebraskan Communities [Research Brief]

Provides a synopsis of the report on life in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan Nebraskan communities by Nebraska Rural Poll researchers. Includes details about community change, community social attributes, community powerlessness, satisfaction with community services and amenities, attachment to the community, discrimination in the community, plans to leave the community, and individual and community political views. The Nebraska Rural Poll sampled residents from non-metropolitan counties and regional trade centers in the state. The Nebraska Metro Poll sampled the seven counties that comprise the Lincoln and Omaha metropolitan areas. Both polls sent four mailings regarding or containing the surveys in the spring of 2021 and had an online response option

Impacts of the Pandemic in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Most rural Nebraskans felt various impacts from the pandemic. While many rural Nebraskans had someone in their household that quarantined because of possible coronavirus exposure or who contracted COVID-19, most have friends or family in their community that quarantined or contracted the virus. Many rural Nebraskans also have friends or family both inside and outside their community who were hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 or who died as a result of it. Most rural Nebraskans say the following were affected a fair amount or a great deal by the pandemic: their socialization with others, their life overall, and their company/workplace. Conversely, most rural Nebraskans say their physical health, their financial health and their mental health were either not at all impacted or not much. Some groups were more likely to report having these aspects of their lives affected by the pandemic. Residents of the Northeast region are more likely than persons living in other regions of the state to say the following aspects have been impacted at least a fair amount by the pandemic: their life overall, their mental health, and their physical health. And, persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say the following items were affected at least a fair amount by the pandemic: their life overall, their mental health, their physical health, their financial health and their socialization with others. Work patterns were also impacted. While 16 percent of employed rural Nebraskans worked from home some of the time before the coronavirus outbreak, this increased to 28 percent when they took the survey in the spring and early summer. If they had a choice after the outbreak, just over one-third would like to work from home at least some of the time. Various economic impacts were also felt by rural Nebraskans. Two out of ten rural Nebraskans say someone in their household had a loss of income during the past year, 16 percent said someone in the household had their hours reduced and 16 percent had someone receive paid time off from their employer if a person in the household was infected with COVID-19. More of these impacts were seen in their community. Almost one-third of rural Nebraskans had friends or family in their community who had a loss of income or had their hours reduced. Almost three in ten had friends or family in their community that reduced the hours of operation of their business and just over one-quarter had friends or family in their community that were temporarily laid off. Certain groups are more likely to have experienced these economic impacts. Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to say someone in their household experienced the following in the past year: were temporarily laid off, lost their job, and had hours reduced. And, persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say friends or family in their community experienced many of the items listed: were temporarily laid off, lost their job, changed jobs, retired early, had hours reduced, had a loss of income and returned to work after being laid off temporarily. However, persons living in or near the smallest communities are the group most likely to say friends or family in their community closed a business. Consumer habits were also impacted. Many rural Nebraskans engaged in the following activities more often during the pandemic: had food from a restaurant delivered or used curbside pickup (44%), used videoconferencing to visit with friends or relatives (44%), shopped online (other than groceries) (38%), and had groceries delivered or used curbside pickup (34%). And, most rural Nebraskans report being likely to shop online (other than groceries) and use self-service banking options going forward. Many also say it will be likely for them to videoconference with friends/relatives, order food from a restaurant for delivery or curbside pickup and to order groceries by delivery or curbside pickup. Not many rural Nebraskans report significant limitations from their home Internet service on their ability to do various activities, such as work at home or participate in online K – 12 learning. Less than one in ten report being limited significantly or not being able to do each of the activities listed

Impacts of the Pandemic in Metropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results

Most metropolitan Nebraskans felt various impacts from the pandemic. While many metropolitan Nebraskans had someone in their household that quarantined because of possible coronavirus exposure or who contracted COVID-19, most have friends or family in their community that quarantined or contracted the virus. Many metropolitan Nebraskans also have friends or family both inside and outside their community who were hospitalized as a result of COVID-19. Most metropolitan Nebraskans say the following were affected a fair amount or a great deal by the pandemic: their socialization with others, their life overall, their company/ workplace and their mental health. Conversely, most rural Nebraskans say their physical health and their financial health were either not at all impacted or not much. Some groups were more likely to report having these aspects of their lives affected by the pandemic. Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say the following items were affected at least a fair amount by the pandemic: their life overall, their mental health and their socialization with others. Work patterns were also impacted. While 14 percent of employed metropolitan Nebraskans worked from home some of the time before the coronavirus outbreak, this increased to 53 percent when they took the survey in the spring and early summer. If they had a choice after the outbreak, almost six in ten would like to work from home at least some of the time. Various economic impacts were also felt by metropolitan Nebraskans. Just over two in ten metropolitan Nebraskans say someone in their household had a loss of income during the past year, 19 percent had someone receive paid time off from their employer if a person in the household was infected with COVID-19, 17 percent said someone in the household had their hours reduced and 16 percent said someone in the household increased their income. More of these impacts were seen in their community. Almost four in ten metropolitan Nebraskans had friends or family in their community who had a loss of income, had their hours reduced or were temporarily laid off. Just over one-quarter had friends or family in their community that changed jobs. Certain groups are more likely to have experienced these economic impacts. Persons with the lowest household incomes are more likely than persons with higher incomes to say someone in their household experienced a loss of income in the past year. And, the youngest persons were the age group most likely to say someone in their household lost their job, changed jobs and increased their income. Consumer habits were also impacted. Many metropolitan Nebraskans did the following items more often during the pandemic: used videoconferencing to visit with friends or relatives (67%), had food from a restaurant delivered or used curbside pickup (66%), shopped online (other than groceries) (48%), had groceries delivered or used curbside pickup (42%) and used curbside pickup at a store (other than groceries) (41%). And, most metropolitan Nebraskans report being likely to order food from a restaurant for delivery or curbside pickup, shop online (other than groceries), use self-service banking options and use videoconferencing to visit with friends or relatives going forward . Many also say it will be likely for them to order groceries by delivery or curbside pickup, use curbside pickup at a store (other than groceries) and to have a virtual visit with a doctor. Not many metropolitan Nebraskans report significant limitations from their home Internet service on their ability to do various activities, such as work at home or participate in online K – 12 learning. Less than one in ten report being limited significantly or not being able to do each of the activities listed. However, persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to say their Internet service at least significantly limits their ability to engage in each of the activities listed

Impacts of the Pandemic for Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans [Research Brief]

Provides a synopsis of the report on impacts of the pandemic for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan Nebraskans by Nebraska Rural Poll researchers. Includes details about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, health and economic impacts experienced during the pandemic from the 2021 metro and rural polls, the extent elements of life were affected or disrupted by the pandemic, frequency of working from home, changes in consumer habits during the pandemic, the likelihood of making consumer choices going forward, and the limitations of home internet service. The Nebraska Rural Poll sampled residents from non-metropolitan counties and regional trade centers in the state. The Nebraska Metro Poll sampled the seven counties that comprise the Lincoln and Omaha metropolitan areas. Both polls sent four mailings regarding or containing the surveys in the spring of 2021 and had an online response option

Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans’ Opinions about Water, Climate, and Energy: 2022 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Most rural Nebraskans receive their home tap water from city water or municipal water systems. Just over two-thirds of rural Nebraskans receive their drinking water from a municipal system. One-quarter have private well water and seven percent are on a rural water system. Many rural Nebraskans have tested their home tap water for nitrates. However, a similar proportion indicated they have not tested their water or are unsure. Persons with higher household incomes are more likely than persons with lower incomes to have tested their home water for each of the items listed. Many persons with the lowest household incomes unsure if their water has been tested. Most rural Nebraskans do not treat their home tap water before drinking it. Persons living in or near the smallest communities (who were more likely to have private well water) are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to not treat their home tap water. Rural Nebraskans have mixed opinions about various water problems. At least three in ten are concerned or very concerned about the following: contaminants in their water supply, water quality affecting their or their family’s health, water quality affecting wildlife or environment, water quality affecting the cost of water bills, and water will be too polluted. However, either the same or larger proportions indicate they are not concerned or not very concerned about these same items. Rural Nebraskans’ concerns about severe weather events have fluctuated over time. Concerns over extreme temperatures and more severe droughts declined between 2015 and 2020 but then increased again this year. The level of concern for these weather events this year is the highest over the three periods. Concerns about more severe droughts declined from 48 percent in 2015 to 21 percent in 2020 before increasing to 55 percent this year. However, when asked about more frequent extreme rains or floods, the level of concern was highest in 2020. Just under three in ten were concerned about extreme rains or floods in 2020, compared to just under one-quarter this year and 15 percent in 2015. In 2020, the flooding of 2019 was fresh in respondents’ minds. In 2015 parts of the state had been in drought the previous year and in 2022 most of the state is experiencing drought. These likely account for the differing levels of concerns between those years. This year, at least one-half of rural Nebraskans are concerned or very concerned about more severe droughts or dry periods (55%) and more extreme summer temperatures (50%). The Panhandle residents are more likely than residents of other regions to be concerned about more severe droughts or dry periods and more extreme summer temperatures. Rural Nebraskans are less likely to agree that we will learn to live with and adapt to climate change this year as they were in both 2013 and 2008. Just over six in ten agree with the statement this year, compared to just over seven in ten respondents in both 2013 and 2008. This year, most rural Nebraskans agree that we will learn to live with and adapt to climate change and that we have a responsibility to future generations to reduce the effects of climate change. A slight majority of rural Nebraskans agree that human activity is contributing to climate change. However, many rural Nebraskans agree that too much attention is paid to global climate change. This opinion was particularly apparent among persons with occupations in agriculture. Many rural Nebraskans favor proposals to reduce the effects of climate change that use tax credits or taxing corporations based on the carbon emissions they produce. Opinions are mixed on tougher carbon emission standards and tougher fuel-efficiency standards. Many rural Nebraskans oppose tax credits for electric vehicles

Social and Physical Environments and Disparities in Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: The Healthy Environments Partnership Conceptual Model

The Healthy Environments Partnership (HEP) is a community-based participatory research effort investigating variations in cardiovascular disease risk, and the contributions of social and physical environments to those variations, among non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic residents in three areas of Detroit, Michigan. Initiated in October 2000 as a part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Health Disparities Initiative, HEP is affiliated with the Detroit Community–Academic Urban Research Center. The study is guided by a conceptual model that considers race-based residential segregation and associated concentrations of poverty and wealth to be fundamental factors influencing multiple, more proximate predictors of cardiovascular risk. Within this model, physical and social environments are identified as intermediate factors that mediate relationships between fundamental factors and more proximate factors such as physical activity and dietary practices that ultimately influence anthropomorphic and physiologic indicators of cardiovascular risk. The study design and data collection methods were jointly developed and implemented by a research team based in community-based organizations, health service organizations, and academic institutions. These efforts include collecting and analyzing airborne particulate matter over a 3-year period; census and administrative data; neighborhood observation checklist data to assess aspects of the physical and social environment; household survey data including information on perceived stressors, access to social support, and health-related behaviors; and anthropometric, biomarker, and self-report data as indicators of cardiovascular health. Through these collaborative efforts, HEP seeks to contribute to an understanding of factors that contribute to racial and socioeconomic health inequities, and develop a foundation for efforts to eliminate these disparities in Detroit