Modelling Epsilon Aurigae without solid particles

Three components can be expected to contribute to the emission of epsilon Aurigae. There is a primary F star. There is an opaque disk which occults it, and there is a gas stream which is observed to produce absorption lines. Evidence that the disk is not responsible for the gas stream lines comes both from the radial velocities, which are too small, and from the IR energy distribution out of eclipse, which shows free-free emission that would produce inadequate optical depth in electron scattering. The color temperature of the IR excess can give misleading indications of low temperature material. Free-free emission at 10,000 K between 10 and 20 microns has a color temperature of 350 K. Attempts to mold the system are discussed

The MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope campaign: 2m spectroscopy of the V361 Hya variable PG1605+072

We present results and analysis for the 2m spectroscopic part of the MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope (MSST) campaign undertaken in May/June 2002. The goal of the project was to observe the pulsating subdwarf B star PG1605+072 simultaneously in velocity and photometry and to resolve as many of the >50 known modes as possible, which will allow a detailed asteroseismological analysis. We have obtained over 150 hours of spectroscopy, leading to an unprecedented noise level of only 207m/s. We report here the detection of 20 frequencies in velocity, with two more likely just below our detection threshold. In particular, we detect 6 linear combinations, making PG1605+072 only the second star known to show such frequencies in velocity. We investigate the phases of these combinations and their parent modes and find relationships between them that cannot be easily understood based on current theory. These observations, when combined with our simultaneous photometry, should allow asteroseismology of this most complicated of sdB pulsators.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&A; Figure 1 at lower resolution than accepted versio

Better arthritis care: what training do community-based health professionals need to improve their care of people with arthritis? a Delphi study

Objective The aim of the present study was to identify the competencies that non-specialist community-based nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) need to enable them to assess, care for and manage arthritis appropriately. Methods A Delphi survey with an expert panel of 43 rheumatology specialists and expert patients was used to identify the competencies needed by community-based nurses and AHPs to enable them to improve their care of people with arthritis. The process was informed by feedback from focus groups with arthritis patients, community-based nurses and AHPs. Results The core competencies in arthritis care needed by non-specialist community-based nurses and AHPs were identified. The key goals identified were to increase the understanding of arthritis and its impact on patients’ lives, and to increase the ability to help patients to self-manage their condition and access support. Competencies included an understanding of the pathology underlying inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthritis, the ability to distinguish between the two and the ability to recognize early warning signs, with an emphasis on osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, gout and septic arthritis. Essential competencies included the ability to engage in shared decision making, goal setting and signposting, to provide patients with education and information and to make appropriate referrals. Conclusions Health professionals working in the community commonly encounter arthritis as a presenting problem or as a co-morbidity. The quality of care provided to people with inflammatory arthritis and OA in the community is currently variable. The present study identified the core competencies that all community-based nurses and AHPs should have in relation to OA and inflammatory arthritis

Towards measurable resilience: A novel framework tool for the assessment of resilience levels in slums

This paper investigates the need for a generic technique to be applied in the assessment of resilience-related projects in slums – particularly for localised infrastructure at a community level – and proposes a novel framework tool for this purpose. The paper outlines the development of the framework tool, as well as its pilot testing on the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme in Kibera, Nairobi. The evaluation demonstrates an improvement in asset base, capacities and external resources for the community post intervention. The lack of land tenure was identified to be a key weakness and factor which impacted resilience of the local residents

Therapy for Auditory Processing Impairment in Aphasia: An evaluation of two approaches

Purpose: This study evaluated two forms of discrimination therapy for auditory processing impairment in aphasia. It aimed to determine whether therapy can improve speech perception and/or help participants use semantic information to compensate for their impairment. Changes in listening were also explored by recording the level of facilitation needed during therapy tasks. Finally the study examined the effect of therapy on an everyday listening activity: a telephone message task. Method: The study employed a repeated measures design. Eight participants received 12 sessions each of phonological and semantic-phonological therapy. Both programmes used minimal pair judgement tasks, but the latter embedded such tasks within a meaningful context, so encouraged the strategic use of semantic information (semantic bootstrapping). Experimental measures of auditory discrimination and comprehension were administered twice before therapy, once after each programme, and again six weeks later. The telephone message task was also administered at each time point. Test data were subjected to both group and individual analyses. Records of progress during therapy (i.e changes in support needed to carry out therapy tasks) were completed during treatment and analysed across the group. Results: Group analyses showed no significant changes in tests of word and nonword discrimination as a result of therapy. One comprehension task improved following therapy, but two did not. There was also no indication that therapy improved the discrimination of treated words, as assessed by a priming task. The facilitation scores indicated that participants needed less support during tasks as therapy progressed, possibly as a result of improved listening. There was a significant effect of time on the telephone message task. Across all tasks there were few individual gains. Conclusions: The results offer little evidence that therapy improved participants’ discrimination or semantic bootstrapping skills. Some changes in listening may have occurred, as indicated by the facilitation scores. Reasons for the null findings are discussed