Exploring the Properties of Mira-Type Stars with Spectropolarimetry.

Mira-type stars are luminous red giants that have pulsation periods that last anywhere between 100 and 700 days. The irregular behavior of their periods and atmospheric properties flag them as excellent candidates for astrophysical studies of non-spherical stars. This paper focuses on the linear polarization of light emitted from three Mira- type stars: Mira itself, R Leo, and V CVn. Polarimetric data from the University of Wisconsin’s Half-Wave Spectropolarimeter (HPOL) database, as well as other archives of polarimetric data, provide us with insight into the atmospheric and geometrical prop- erties of these three stars. We were able to study the net polarizations and position angles alongside light curves provided by AAVSO. The observed variable polarization is a clear signature of evolving aspherical geometries for these stars. However, we found a major surprise concerning the polarimetric characteristics in V CVn, which suggest that V CVn is unlike a traditional Mira-type variable star. We end with an exploration of new possibilities regarding the atmospheric properties of V CVn

Formal Definitions of Unbounded Evolution and Innovation Reveal Universal Mechanisms for Open-Ended Evolution in Dynamical Systems

Open-ended evolution (OEE) is relevant to a variety of biological, artificial and technological systems, but has been challenging to reproduce in silico. Most theoretical efforts focus on key aspects of open-ended evolution as it appears in biology. We recast the problem as a more general one in dynamical systems theory, providing simple criteria for open-ended evolution based on two hallmark features: unbounded evolution and innovation. We define unbounded evolution as patterns that are non-repeating within the expected Poincare recurrence time of an equivalent isolated system, and innovation as trajectories not observed in isolated systems. As a case study, we implement novel variants of cellular automata (CA) in which the update rules are allowed to vary with time in three alternative ways. Each is capable of generating conditions for open-ended evolution, but vary in their ability to do so. We find that state-dependent dynamics, widely regarded as a hallmark of life, statistically out-performs other candidate mechanisms, and is the only mechanism to produce open-ended evolution in a scalable manner, essential to the notion of ongoing evolution. This analysis suggests a new framework for unifying mechanisms for generating OEE with features distinctive to life and its artifacts, with broad applicability to biological and artificial systems.Comment: Main document: 17 pages, Supplement: 21 pages Presented at OEE2: The Second Workshop on Open-Ended Evolution, 15th International Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ALIFE XV), Canc\'un, Mexico, 4-8 July 2016 (http://www.tim-taylor.com/oee2/

Evidence of a Mira-like tail and bow shock about the semi-regular variable V CVn from four decades of polarization measurements

Polarization is a powerful tool for understanding stellar atmospheres and circumstellar environments. Mira and semi-regular variable stars have been observed for decades and some are known to be polarimetrically variable, however, the semi-regular variable V Canes Venatici displays an unusually large, unexplained amount of polarization. We present ten years of optical polarization observations obtained with the HPOL instrument, supplemented by published observations spanning a total interval of about forty years for V CVn. We find that V CVn shows large polarization variations ranging from 1 - 6%. We also find that for the past forty years the position angle measured for V CVn has been virtually constant suggesting a long-term, stable, asymmetric structure about the star. We suggest that this asymmetry is caused by the presence of a stellar wind bow shock and tail, consistent with the star's large space velocity.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in A&

Massage Gun Use at a Lower Frequency Does Not Alter Blood Flow

Data has shown that whole body vibration can affect blood flow velocity in arteries and improves cutaneous blood flow. However, there is very limited information available on therapeutic localized vibration. Massage guns have become very popular with little to no research validating their efficacy. It is currently unknown if massages guns can affect arterial blood flow. PURPOSE: To determine if massage gun treatment at 30Hz improves and retains blood flow in the popliteal artery as compared to a control condition. METHODS: There were 12 participants in this study (8 males and 4 females). The mean age was 22.7±1.6 yrs, the mean height was 181.1± 11.8 cm, and the mean weight was 78.2±16.2 kg. Participants wore shorts that allowed us to access their popliteal artery using ultrasound imaging. Participants wore electrodes to control the measurement of blood flow from widest artery diameter. Participants lay prone with a foam roller under their ankles to slightly elevate their feet. After ten minutes of rest, ultrasound imaging was used to find the participant’s popliteal artery behind the knee and took two baseline measurements. We measured the mean velocity of blood flow (TAmean) and volume flow (VolF). We measured subjects on 4 different days (30Hz at 5 minutes, 30Hz 10 minutes, Control 5 minutes, Control 10 minutes). Measurements of TAmean and VolF were measured at multiple time points after treatment. RESULTS: A two-factor repeated measures analysis was performed. Each subject was measured under all levels of condition (1=30hz 5 min, 4=Control 5 mi, 5=30hz 10 min, 8=Control 10 min) and time (baseline, post, post1-5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19). TA mean is significantly greater in 30Hz versus control (p=0.0349). TAmean varies across time, and the effect of the condition on TAmean is related to time (p=0.0104). There is not a significant difference in flow between 30Hz and control (p=0.2425). Blood flow varies across time (pCONCLUSION: Use of a massage gun at a lower frequency setting of 30Hz may cause slight increases in velocity but does not increase mean blood flow as compared to control. Lower frequency settings on massage guns may not be benefit blood flow in the massaged muscle group

Musculoskeletal Injections Performed by Family Medicine Residents Participating in a Clinical Sports Medicine Track

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary care physicians (PCPs) are front line providers of musculoskeletal (MSK) care and MSK injections. Little is known about the volume of common MSK injections performed by FM residents (FMRs) and those residents participating in a longitudinal clinical sports medicine (SM) track. This study outlines an SM track and demonstrates the MSK procedural experience of SM track residents (SMRs) and traditional FMRs (non-SMRs). METHODS: We utilized a retrospective study design. We compared billing codes and provider information for common MSK injections for the second (PGY-2) and third (PGY-3) postgraduate years for non-SMRs (n=39) and SMRs (n=7) graduating between 2018-2021. We used the average number of patient encounters for each comparison group (non-SMRs vs SMRs) to determine the percentage of patients receiving an MSK injection in each cohort by PGY status. RESULTS: Of patients receiving MSK injections across both groups, the most common was the landmark-guided large joint injection (64.23%), and the most frequent site was the knee (47.00%). SMRs performed significantly more MSK injections per patient evaluated compared to non-SMRs while in the SM clinic (PGY-2: 2.706% vs 0.913%, P CONCLUSIONS: An SM track in the FM residency is associated with an increased volume of MSK injections among SMRs compared to their graduate year-matched non-SMRs

Effect of Localized Vibration Using Massage Gun at 40hz and 50hz on Blood Flow

Data has shown that whole body vibration can positively affect blood flow, however, there are very few studies on the effect of localized therapeutic vibration on arterial blood flow. Occupational studies looking at localized vibration effects on skin blood flow normally include high frequency settings. In the last few years, massage guns have become popular, but they operate at lower frequencies. Currently, there is no data on the effects of localized vibration from massage guns on arterial blood flow. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of two different frequencies of localized vibration on blood flow in the popliteal artery. METHODS: 12 subjects participated in this study (8 males and 4 females). Mean age was 22.7±1.6 years; mean height was 181.1±11.8 cm; mean weight was 78.2±16.2 kg. Participants wore shorts to give access to the popliteal artery. Participants were hooked to ECG leads to control measurement of artery diameter and then laid on a treatment table in a prone position with a foam roller under their ankles. Once at resting heart rate, baseline blood flow readings were taken using ultrasound, which measured TA Mean and Volume Flow. The participants were then randomly given a 5-minute treatment of control with no vibration or vibration at 40hz or 50hz. Blood flow readings were taken immediately post-treatment and then every minute for 5 minutes after. RESULTS: A two-factor repeated measures analysis was performed. Each subject was measured under all levels of condition (Control 5 min, 40hz 5 min, and 50hz 5 min) and time (baseline, post, post1-5). TA Mean and Volume Flow for both 40hz and 50hz were significantly greater than control (p=0.0020 and p=0.0110 respectively). The effect of time was significant (

Sulfur cycling connects microbiomes and biogeochemistry in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes

In globally distributed deep-sea hydrothermal vent plumes, microbiomes are shaped by the redox energy landscapes created by reduced hydrothermal vent fluids mixing with oxidized seawater. Plumes can disperse over thousands of kilometers and their characteristics are determined by geochemical sources from vents, e.g., hydrothermal inputs, nutrients, and trace metals. However, the impacts of plume biogeochemistry on the oceans are poorly constrained due to a lack of integrated understanding of microbiomes, population genetics, and geochemistry. Here, we use microbial genomes to understand links between biogeography, evolution, and metabolic connectivity, and elucidate their impacts on biogeochemical cycling in the deep sea. Using data from 36 diverse plume samples from seven ocean basins, we show that sulfur metabolism defines the core microbiome of plumes and drives metabolic connectivity in the microbial community. Sulfur-dominated geochemistry influences energy landscapes and promotes microbial growth, while other energy sources influence local energy landscapes. We further demonstrated the consistency of links among geochemistry, function, and taxonomy. Amongst all microbial metabolisms, sulfur transformations had the highest MW-score, a measure of metabolic connectivity in microbial communities. Additionally, plume microbial populations have low diversity, short migration history, and gene-specific sweep patterns after migrating from background seawater. Selected functions include nutrient uptake, aerobic oxidation, sulfur oxidation for higher energy yields, and stress responses for adaptation. Our findings provide the ecological and evolutionary bases of change in sulfur-driven microbial communities and their population genetics in adaptation to changing geochemical gradients in the oceans