The X-ray properties of the merging galaxy pair NGC 4038/9 - the Antennae

We report the results of an X-ray spectral imaging observation of the Antennae with the ROSAT PSPC. 55% of the soft X-ray flux from the system is resolved into discrete sources, including components identified with the galactic nuclei and large HII regions, whilst the remainder appears to be predominantly genuinely diffuse emission from gas at a temperature ~4x10^6 K. The morphology of the emission is unusual, combining a halo which envelopes the galactic discs, with what appears to be a distorted, but well-collimated bipolar outflow. We derive physical parameters for the hot gas in both diffuse components, which are of some interest, given that the Antennae probably represents an elliptical galaxy in the making.Comment: 15 pages plus 9 figures, uuencoded encapsulated postscript file. Accepted for publication in MNRA

The discovery of a highly polarized bipolar nebula

During a search for the optical counterparts of IRAS sources whose flux peaks at 25 microns, a small faint bipolar nebula was discovered in Monoceros at the position of IRAS 07131-0147. The CCD images display the object's considerable structure. The central star seems relatively free of closeby nebulosity: the two lobes have a bow-tie structure with those parts nearest to the star consisting of series of small knots. The outer parts of the lobes seem to be made up of filaments streaming away from knots. On the basis of its optical spectrum, the central star was classified as a M5-6 giant. In the IRAS color classification scheme of Van der Veen and Habing (1988), the central star is VIb which indicates that there are distinct hot and cold components of circumstellar dust and that the mass loss process may have temporarily abated. Therefore, it is proposed that the object is in the post main sequence stage of evolution and is a protoplanetary nebulae. Young protoplanetary nebulae have totally obscured central stars illuminating reflective lobes whereas older ones such as M2-9 have lobes seen in emission from gas ionized by the central hot star which is clearly visible. Since the central object of IRAS07131-0147 is a relatively unobscured late type star and the lobes are seen only by reflection, it is suggested that this nebula is a protoplanetary nebula in an evolutionary stage intermediate between that of CRL2688 and M2-9

The infrared morphology of galactic centers

Initial results are presented of a program to map the centers of galaxies in the mid-infrared using the NASA-MSFC 20 pixel bolometer array. Maps at 10.8 micrometer of the galaxies NGC 5236 (M82), NGC 1808, NGC 4536, and NGC 4527 reveal complex emitting regions ranging in size from 500 pc to 2 kpc. The infrared spatial distributions generally resemble those in the visible and radio. In all cases a large fraction of the IRAS 12 micrometer flux originates in spatial structures prominent in the maps

Practitioners' experiences of delivering parenting interventions remotely:A mixed-methods study

Group Stepping Stones Triple P (GSSTP), is an evidence-based intervention for parents of children with intellectual disability that aims to improve child behavioural difficulties. GSSTP was designed to be delivered face-to-face, but during the COVID-19 pandemic some services started delivering it remotely. The evidence base for remote intervention is growing, but few studies have focused on the experiences of practitioners delivering the interventions and the consequences of their service provision. We aimed to explore UK practitioners' experiences of delivering remotely GSSTP. The objectives were to identify the advantages and disadvantages of remote GSSTP, to determine whether adjustments were made to enable delivery, and to assess perceived acceptability. Participants were identified using consecutive sampling from the Triple P UK practitioner network. Eleven practitioners, who had experience of delivering GSSTP remotely and face-to-face, reported their experiences in an online survey. Ten participants also took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. According to 55% of practitioners, parent attendance had increased with remote delivery, and 73% of practitioners found remote GSSTP equally or more effective than face-to-face. Survey findings about managing parent engagement remotely were mixed and building rapport with patients was considered equally or more difficult remotely. The key themes from the thematic analysis were the practitioners' ‘sincere enthusiasm’ over the advantages of the remote GSSTP provision, the ‘person-centered strategies’ that characterised their practice, the emergence of ‘remote delivery as the way forward’ for parenting services and finally, the ‘challenges of remote delivery’. Remote GSSTP was perceived to be acceptable to participants and practitioners; the advantages of remote delivery appeared to outweigh the disadvantages. Practitioners reported strategies to prompt engagement and recreate group interactions in the remote setting that could be integrated in the practice of other group parenting providers.</p

Practitioners' experiences of delivering parenting interventions remotely:A mixed-methods study

Group Stepping Stones Triple P (GSSTP), is an evidence-based intervention for parents of children with intellectual disability that aims to improve child behavioural difficulties. GSSTP was designed to be delivered face-to-face, but during the COVID-19 pandemic some services started delivering it remotely. The evidence base for remote intervention is growing, but few studies have focused on the experiences of practitioners delivering the interventions and the consequences of their service provision. We aimed to explore UK practitioners' experiences of delivering remotely GSSTP. The objectives were to identify the advantages and disadvantages of remote GSSTP, to determine whether adjustments were made to enable delivery, and to assess perceived acceptability. Participants were identified using consecutive sampling from the Triple P UK practitioner network. Eleven practitioners, who had experience of delivering GSSTP remotely and face-to-face, reported their experiences in an online survey. Ten participants also took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. According to 55% of practitioners, parent attendance had increased with remote delivery, and 73% of practitioners found remote GSSTP equally or more effective than face-to-face. Survey findings about managing parent engagement remotely were mixed and building rapport with patients was considered equally or more difficult remotely. The key themes from the thematic analysis were the practitioners' ‘sincere enthusiasm’ over the advantages of the remote GSSTP provision, the ‘person-centered strategies’ that characterised their practice, the emergence of ‘remote delivery as the way forward’ for parenting services and finally, the ‘challenges of remote delivery’. Remote GSSTP was perceived to be acceptable to participants and practitioners; the advantages of remote delivery appeared to outweigh the disadvantages. Practitioners reported strategies to prompt engagement and recreate group interactions in the remote setting that could be integrated in the practice of other group parenting providers.</p

Three quasars from a survey of strong 25-µm emitters

We have carried out a spectroscopic survey of 750 sources that are strong 25-μm emitters from the IRAS Faint Source data base. Many of these sources are previously unknown active galactic nuclei including new IRAS quasars, three of which we describe here: F21382−2659, Z06367−6845 and Z05558−5008. They are all radio and X-ray quiet, and compared to the known IRAS quasars they have similar 25-μm luminosities, L(25 μm), but lower values of L(25 μm)/L(B). Their F(25 μm)/F(60 μm) IRAS colours lie in the range 0.33 to 1.08, indicating the presence of relatively warm dust, presumably in a dusty torus surrounding the central source, and with temperatures similar to those of the known IRAS quasars. The quasar with the warmest dust, F21382−2659, exhibits broad (full width at half-maximum ~4000 km s^(−1)) asymmetric Balmer lines with Hγ having an opposite asymmetry to the other broad lines; also Hβ (only) is double-peaked. Fe ii is very weak in F21382−2659 but strong in the other two quasars, and the anticorrelation between Fe ii and [O iii] holds as anticipated. Two of the quasars are unpolarized: although F21382−2659 is optically polarized (2.1 per cent at 4950 Å), we argue that this provides little insight into the orientation of its dust torus relative to the line of sight

Whole-mantle convection with tectonic plates preserves long-term global patterns of upper mantle geochemistry

The evolution of the planetary interior during plate tectonics is controlled by slow convection within the mantle. Global-scale geochemical differences across the upper mantle are known, but how they are preserved during convection has not been adequately explained. We demonstrate that the geographic patterns of chemical variations around the Earth’s mantle endure as a direct result of whole-mantle convection within largely isolated cells defined by subducting plates. New 3D spherical numerical models embedded with the latest geological paleo-tectonic reconstructions and ground-truthed with new Hf-Nd isotope data, suggest that uppermost mantle at one location (e.g. under Indian Ocean) circulates down to the core-mantle boundary (CMB), but returns within ≥100 Myrs via large-scale convection to its approximate starting location. Modelled tracers pool at the CMB but do not disperse ubiquitously around it. Similarly, mantle beneath the Pacific does not spread to surrounding regions of the planet. The models fit global patterns of isotope data and may explain features such as the DUPAL anomaly and long-standing differences between Indian and Pacific Ocean crust. Indeed, the geochemical data suggests this mode of convection could have influenced the evolution of mantle composition since 550 Ma and potentially since the onset of plate tectonics

Mental health and behavioural problems in children with XXYY: a comparison with intellectual disabilities

Background The phenotype of children with XXYY has predominantly been defined by comparison to other sex chromosome aneuploidies trisomies affecting male children; however, the intellectual ability of children with XXYY is lower than children with other sex chromosome aneuploidies trisomies. It is not known to what extent the phenotype identified to date is specific to XXYY, rather than a reflection of lower IQ. This study evaluates the mental health and behaviour of children with XXYY, in comparison to children with intellectual disabilities of heterogeneous genetic origin. Methods Fifteen children with XXYY and 30 controls matched for age (4–14 years), sex and intellectual ability were ascertained from the IMAGINE ID study. IMAGINE ID participants have intellectual disabilities due to genetic anomalies confirmed by National Health Service Regional Genetic Centre laboratories. The mental health and behaviour of participants was examined with the Development and Well‐being Assessment and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Children with XXYY experienced significantly more frequent and intense temper outbursts than the control group. Conclusion Our results suggest that temper outbursts may be specifically associated with the XXYY phenotype. These problems have a significant impact on the daily lives of boys with XXYY and their families. It is crucial to ensure that families are well supported to manage these difficulties

Diagnostic Assessment of Autism in Children Using Telehealth in a Global Context: a Systematic Review

Reflecting the significant delays in autism assessments globally, studies have explored whether autism assessments conducted via telehealth are feasible and accurate. This systematic review investigated the psychometric properties of autism assessment tools for children administered via telehealth and examined the diagnostic accuracy of telehealth assessment procedures compared to care-as-usual in-person assessments. Relevant databases (MEDLINE, Embase and PsycInfo) were searched for eligible studies (PROSPERO: CRD42022332500). In total, 18 studies were included, collectively assessing 1593 children for autism. Telehealth assessments for autism were largely comparable to in-person assessments, with a diagnostic agreement of 80–88.2%. Individual behavioral observation tools, diagnostic interviews, and clinician-administered screening tools demonstrated acceptable validity. For many children, diagnostic decision-making can be expedited without loss of validity using telehealth