21,828 research outputs found

    Adjustment of the basin-scale circulation at 26 degrees N to variations in Gulf Stream, deep western boundary current and Ekman transports as observed by the Rapid array

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    The Rapid instrument array across the Atlantic Ocean along 26 degrees N provides unprecedented monitoring of the basin-scale circulation. A unique feature of the Rapid array is the combination of full-depth moorings with instruments measuring temperature, salinity, pressure time series at many depths with co-located bottom pressure measurements so that dynamic pressure can be measured from surface to bottom. Bottom pressure measurements show a zonally uniform rise (and fall) of bottom pressure of 0.015 dbar on a 5 to 10 day time scale, suggesting that the Atlantic basin is filling and draining on a short time scale. After removing the zonally uniform bottom pressure fluctuations, bottom pressure variations at 4000 m depth against the western boundary compensate instantaneously for baroclinic fluctuations in the strength and structure of the deep western boundary current so there is no basin-scale mass imbalance resulting from variations in the deep western boundary current. After removing the mass compensating bottom pressure, residual bottom pressure fluctuations at the western boundary just east of the Bahamas balance variations in Gulf Stream transport. Again the compensation appears to be especially confined close to the western boundary. Thus, fluctuations in either Gulf Stream or deep western boundary current transports are compensated in a depth independent (barotropic) manner very close to the continental slope off the Bahamas. In contrast, compensation for variations in wind-driven surface Ekman transport appears to involve fluctuations in both western basin and eastern basin bottom pressures, though the bottom pressure difference fluctuations appear to be a factor of 3 too large, perhaps due to an inability to resolve small bottom pressure fluctuations after removal of larger zonal average, baroclinic, and Gulf Stream pressure components. For 4 tall moorings where time series dynamic height (geostrophic pressure) profiles can be estimated from sea surface to ocean bottom and bottom pressure can be added, there is no general correlation between surface dynamic height and bottom pressure. Dynamic height on each mooring is strongly correlated with sea surface height from satellite observations and the variability in both dynamic height and satellite sea surface height decrease sharply as the western boundary is approached

    Exploring British and Finnish preregistration nursing students’ experiences of learning emergency and acute care nursing through a collaborative online international (COIL) classroom

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    Background: This case study describes the development and evaluation of a collaborative online international learning (COIL) nursing collaboration between Finland and UK in ‘Care of the Acutely Ill Patient’. Aim: The aim was to plan and deliver an online programme of learning experiences on a shared rofessional subject with mixedinternational students, then evaluate this learning experience with a view to expanding or extending it in future as a core element of our nursing programmes. Method: A steering group led the design format of this short course, aligning it to each university’s curriculum and professional goals. Then, a teaching team devised the learning materials and learning sessions. Finally, the steering group evaluated the course. In total there were 38 student participants (Finland n=21, UK n=17). Results: 80 per cent (n= 20) of students felt that their understanding of the subject had increased as a result of taking the course. In total 64 per cent (n=16) felt that the course had enabled them to gain skills to help their future career development. Perceptions of working in mixed international groups was diverse, with challenges of communication, time and perceptions of what constituted ‘group work’ between UK and Finnish students. Learning new nursing aspects from teachers and peers as well as sharing ideas from another country in a novel way was perceived as beneficial and overall ‘uplifting’. Conclusion: This COIL has significant strengths but also some challenges. The outcomes of this case study point to its potential and value within nursing and other professional programmes

    Restoration of eucalypt grassy woodland: effects of experimental interventions on ground-layer vegetation

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    We report on the effects of broad-scale restoration treatments on the ground layer of eucalypt grassy woodland in south-eastern Australia. The experiment was conducted in two conservation reserves from which livestock grazing had previously been removed. Changes in biomass, species diversity, ground-cover attributes and life-form were analysed over a 4-year period in relation to the following experimental interventions: (1) reduced kangaroo density, (2) addition of coarse woody debris and (3) fire (a single burn). Reducing kangaroo density doubled total biomass in one reserve, but no effects on exotic biomass, species counts or ground cover attributes were observed. Coarse woody debris also promoted biomass, particularly exotic annual forbs, as well as plant diversity in one of the reserves. The single burn reduced biomass, but changed little else. Overall, we found the main driver of change to be the favourable growth seasons that had followed a period of drought. This resulted in biomass increasing by 67%, (mostly owing to the growth of perennial native grasses), whereas overall native species counts increased by 18%, and exotic species declined by 20% over the 4-year observation period. Strategic management of grazing pressure, use of fire where biomass has accumulated and placement of coarse woody debris in areas of persistent erosion will contribute to improvements in soil and vegetation condition, and gains in biodiversity, in the future.Funding and in-kind logistic support for this project was provided by the ACT Government as part of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (LP0561817; LP110100126). Drafts of the manuscript were read by Saul Cunningham and Ben Macdonald

    Perspectives: nursing education - from vision to action in changing world

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    There is consensus that there are shared contemporary issues within nursing and nurse education that require collective consideration and, on occasion, shared solutions. Nonetheless, in the complex world in which we live, taking time to reflect on our work can become lost in the need to meet many competing demands. A conference can be expensive and time consuming, and as time pressures and deadlines loom risk becoming a short trip to present a paper rather than fuller engagement. With this in mind, we offer perspectives on our learning from The Federation of European Nurse Educators (FINE) 11th International FINE Conference in Malta (21–23 February 2018) and some opportunities and challenges facing nursing education today. FINE is a membership organisation, which, since its inception in 1994, has facilitated knowledge exchange and discussion around contemporary challenges in nursing education. Attendees came from 22 nations and five continents to share best practice and educational research innovation. This paper offers insight into key themes that emerged from the conference and the opportunities, innovations and challenges facing nursing education today. We include examples of papers debating these themes. In conclusion, we reflect on our experiences and offer benefits of global networking nursing education

    Embodied innovation and regulation of medical technoscience: transformations in cancer patienthood

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    Biomedical advances are transforming the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Patienthood is also transforming, as patients actively participate in research, innovation and regulation of novel technologies and therapies. In this paper we explore the new kinds of practices that patients are performing in their roles as research subject, co-researchers, donors, campaigners, representatives and consumers of novel stratified therapies. We outline their embodied contributions to clinical trials, biobanks and stratified therapies prior to, during and after having cancer. Exploring how patienthood involves donating more than tissue or data to these developments, we consider their emotional and identity work which informs and shapes the novel diagnostics and therapies being developed. We also consider how this kind of work is stratified according to the social and biological location of participants, and end by reflecting on the implications of our analysis for the organisation and regulation of biomedicine

    ASTE observations in the 345 GHz window towards the HII region N113 of the Large Magellanic Cloud

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    N113 is an HII region located in the central part of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) with an associated molecular cloud very rich in molecular species. Most of the previously observed molecular lines cover the frequency range 85-270 GHz. Thus, a survey and study of lines at the 345 GHz window is required in order to have a more complete understanding of the chemistry and excitation conditions of the region. We mapped a region of 2.5' x 2.5' centered at N113 using the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment in the 13CO J=3-2 line with an angular and spectral resolution of 22" and 0.11 km/s, respectively. In addition, we observed 16 molecular lines as single pointings towards its center. For the molecular cloud associated with N113, from the 13CO J=3-2 map we estimate LTE and virial masses of about 1x10^4 and 4.5x10^4 M_sun, respectively. Additionally, from the dust continuum emission at 500 micron we obtain a mass of gas of 7x10^3 M_sun. Towards the cloud center we detected emission from: 12CO, 13CO, C18O (3-2), HCN, HNC, HCO+, C2H (4-3), and CS (7-6); being the first reported detection of HCN, HNC, and C2H (4-3) lines from this region. The CS (7-6) which was previously tentatively detected is confirmed in this study. By analyzing the HCN, HNC, and C2H, we suggest that their emission may arise from a photodissociation region (PDR). Moreover, we suggest that the chemistry involving the C2H in N113 can be similar to that in Galactic PDRs. Using the HCN J=4-3, J=3-2, and J=1-0 lines in a RADEX analysis we conclude that we are observing very high density gas, between some 10^5 and 10^7 cm-3.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A, September 9, 201

    A view of Large Magellanic Cloud HII regions N159, N132, and N166 through the 345 GHz window

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    We present results obtained towards the HII regions N159, N166, and N132 from the emission of several molecular lines in the 345 GHz window. Using ASTE we mapped a 2.4' ×\times 2.4' region towards the molecular cloud N159-W in the 13^{13}CO J=3-2 line and observed several molecular lines at an IR peak very close to a massive young stellar object. 12^{12}CO and 13^{13}CO J=3-2 were observed towards two positions in N166 and one position in N132. The 13^{13}CO J=3-2 map of the N159-W cloud shows that the molecular peak is shifted southwest compared to the peak of the IR emission. Towards the IR peak we detected emission from HCN, HNC, HCO+^{+}, C2_{2}H J=4-3, CS J=7-6, and tentatively C18^{18}O J=3-2. This is the first reported detection of these molecular lines in N159-W. The analysis of the C2_{2}H line yields more evidence supporting that the chemistry involving this molecular species in compact and/or UCHII regions in the LMC should be similar to that in Galactic ones. A non-LTE study of the CO emission suggests the presence of both cool and warm gas in the analysed region. The same analysis for the CS, HCO+^{+}, HCN, and HNC shows that it is very likely that their emissions arise mainly from warm gas with a density between 5×1055 \times 10^5 to some 10610^6 cm−3^{-3}. The obtained HCN/HNC abundance ratio greater than 1 is compatible with warm gas and with an star-forming scenario. From the analysis of the molecular lines observed towards N132 and N166 we propose that both regions should have similar physical conditions, with densities of about 103^3 cm−3^{-3}.Comment: accepted in MNRAS (October 5, 2015
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