The ALMA Early Science View of FUor/EXor objects. III. The Slow and Wide Outflow of V883 Ori

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/ sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) observations of V883 Ori, an FU Ori object. We describe the molecular outflow and envelope of the system based on the $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO emissions, which together trace a bipolar molecular outflow. The C$^{18}$O emission traces the rotational motion of the circumstellar disk. From the $^{12}$CO blue-shifted emission, we estimate a wide opening angle of $\sim$ 150$^{^{\circ}}$ for the outflow cavities. Also, we find that the outflow is very slow (characteristic velocity of only 0.65 km~s$^{-1}$), which is unique for an FU Ori object. We calculate the kinematic properties of the outflow in the standard manner using the $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO emissions. In addition, we present a P Cygni profile observed in the high-resolution optical spectrum, evidence of a wind driven by the accretion and being the cause for the particular morphology of the outflows. We discuss the implications of our findings and the rise of these slow outflows during and/or after the formation of a rotationally supported disk.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Accepte

Examination of Formal Instructional Design Processes at Traditional Institutions of Higher Education in the United States Post-Pandemic Onset

The purpose of this study is to identify the motivational elements of formal online instructional design processes that are being implemented at traditional institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States (U.S.). For this study, I conducted a comprehensive literature review identifying emerging issues of practice for instructional design partnerships between the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during the spring of 2022 and the spring of 2023. This study was developed through the lens of Keller’s (2010) attention, relevance, confidence, satisfaction, and volition (ARCS-V) model of motivation. An understanding of the elements of current processes that present as benefits and potential barriers to the motivation of participating course authors is vital to the research questions for this study. Keller’s (2010) ARCS-V model provides an industry recognized theoretical framework for interpreting participant responses with respect to motivation. This qualitative study was conducted using a modified Delphi method requiring two rounds of active participation from panelists through the completion of a questionnaire generated from existing literature on the topic, and a final member check. The modified structure is intended to respect the time limitations of course authors who have recently reported increasing difficulty with meeting the demands of the longer timelines favored for designing online courses (June, 2020; Nworie, 2021)

Direct retrieval of stratospheric CO_2 infrared cooling rate profiles from AIRS data

We expand upon methods for retrieving thermal infrared cooling rate profiles, originally developed by Liou and Xue (1988) through application to the inversion of the stratospheric cooling rate produced by carbon dioxide (CO_2) and a formal description of the associated error budget. Specifically, we infer lower- and mid-stratospheric cooling rates from the CO_2 ν_2 band on the basis of selected spectral channels and available data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). In order to establish the validity of our results, we compare our retrievals to those calculated from a forward radiative transfer program using retrieved temperature data from spectra taken by the Scanning High-Resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) on two aircraft campaigns: the Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (MPACE) and the Aura Validation Experiment (AVE) both in Fall, 2004. Reasonable and consistent comparisons are illustrated, revealing that spectral radiance data taken by high-resolution infrared sounders can be used to determine the vertical distribution of radiative cooling due to CO_2

Current-voltage characteristics of quasi-one-dimensional superconductors: An S-curve in the constant voltage regime

Applying a constant voltage to superconducting nanowires we find that its IV-characteristic exhibits an unusual S-behavior. This behavior is the direct consequence of the dynamics of the superconducting condensate and of the existence of two different critical currents: j_{c2} at which the pure superconducting state becomes unstable and j_{c1}<j_{c2} at which the phase slip state is realized in the system.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, replaced with minor change

High efficiency GaAs-Ge tandem solar cells grown by MOCVD

High conversion efficiency and low weight are obviously desirable for solar cells intended for space applications. One promising structure is GaAs on Ge. The advantages of using Ge wafers as substrates include the following: they offer high efficiency by forming a two-junction tandem cell; low weight combined with superior strength allows usage of thin (3 mil) wafers; and they are a good substrate for GaAs, being lattice matched, thermal expansion matched, and available as large-area wafers

Venom costs and optimization in scorpions

Scorpions use venoms as weapons to improve prey capture and predator defense, and these benefits must be balanced against costs associated with its use. Venom costs involve direct energetic costs associated with the production and storage of toxins, and indirect fitness costs arising from reduced venom availability. In order to reduce these costs, scorpions optimize their venom use via evolutionary responses, phenotypic plasticity, and behavioral mechanisms. Over long timescales, evolutionary adaptation to environments with different selection pressures appears to have contributed to interspecific variation in venomcomposition and stingermorphology. Furthermore, plastic responses may allow scorpions to modify and optimize their venom composition as pressures change. Optimal venomuse can vary when facing each prey itemand potential predator encountered, and therefore scorpions display a range of behaviors to optimize their venom use to the particular situation. These behaviors include varying sting rates, employing dry stings, and further altering the volume and composition of venom injected. Whilst these cost-reducing mechanisms are recognized in scorpions, relatively little is understood about the factors that influence them. Here, we review evidence of the costs associated with venom use in scorpions and discuss the mechanisms that have evolved to minimize them

Physiological and morphological responses of 'Irukandji' polyps to thermal and osmotic conditions: consequences for niche profiling

The Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) is a medically important species. While the medusa stage of this species is well known, due to its highly venomous sting, the benthic polyp has core roles in regulating both the timing and abundance of medusa making it a research priority. However, due to their small size, Carukia barnesi polyps have never been found in situ and, basic ecological knowledge surrounding this life stage is limited. In this study we adopt a lab-based approach, utilizing physiological tolerance as a functional tool, to gain new insights into the in situ location for Carukia barnesi polyps. The physiological tolerance of Carukia barnesi polyps was characterized by measuring the oxygen consumption rates of polyps exposed to different salinity/temperature combinations. A total of nine salinities and seven temperatures were investigated, ranging from 11 °C/16‰ to 34 °C/42.5‰, encompassing the spectrum of environments experienced on the Great Barrier Reef. Polyps were also monitored for morphological changes such as asexual reproduction, polyp deterioration, and mortality. Salinity did not have a significant effect on oxygen consumption rates, with Carukia barnesi polyps displaying a significant tolerance to a wide range of salinities. The effect of temperature, however, was statistically significant with oxygen °consumption rates increasing alongside water temperature. There was no statistical evidence to support an interactive effect between salinity and temperature. Based on these results, we conclude that the polyp stage of this species is likely located in an environment with stable temperatures and fluctuating salinities and, consequently, future endeavors aimed at locating this life stage should expand targeted survey areas outside stable oceanic environments, typical of medusa, and encompass dynamic environments such as estuaries and submarine freshwater upwellings

Classifying the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area for the classification phase of the representative areas program

This technical report outlines the methods that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority used to classify the biodiversity of the marine environs of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area for the Representative Areas Program. Classification was the first step in the multiphase Representative Areas Program that eventuated in a new network of no-take areas, free from extractive activities, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Medical cost of Lassa fever treatment in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

This cross-sectional study sought to estimate the direct medical cost of Lassa fever treatment on patients in South-South  Nigeria. All the 73 confirmed Lassa fever cases admitted in the isolation ward of the Institute Of Lassa Fever Research and  Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Irrua, in Edo State, Nigeria, between May 2015 and May 2016 were  studied. A checklist was used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics and medical cost incurred by the  patients. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The average total direct cost for Lassa fever treatment  was N86,802.63 per patient for the subsidized treatment and N205,558.99 per patient for the unsubsidized treatment.  Medications accounted for the highest unsubsidized payments (N86,929.55; 42.10%) while hospital care accounted for the  highest cost component of he subsidized payments (N19,756.51; 22.76%). Up to 84.28% of medication and 70.8% of  investigations was subsidized making a total of 57.77% subsidy in the average total payments per patient. For an average  Nigerian, direct cost of treatment of Lassa fever is still expensive despite subsidy in medications and investigations.  Therefore efforts geared towards reducing the economic burden of Lassa fever on patients and their families are advocated.Keywords: Lassa fever, medical cost, poverty-reduction, South-South Nigeri