2,806 research outputs found
Evolution of the Most Luminous Dusty Galaxies
A summary of mid-infrared continuum luminosities arising from dust is given
for very luminous galaxies, Lir > 10^12 solar luminosities, with 0.005 < z <
3.2 containing active galactic nuclei (AGN), including 115 obscured AGN and 60
unobscured (type 1) AGN. All sources have been observed with the Spitzer
Infrared Spectrograph. Obscured AGN are defined as having optical depth > 0.7
in the 9.7 um silicate absorption feature and unobscured AGN show silicate in
emission. Luminosity vLv(8 um) is found to scale as (1+z)^2.6 to z = 2.8, and
luminosities vLv(8 um) are approximately 3 times greater for the most luminous
unobscured AGN. Total infrared luminosities for the most luminous obscured AGN,
Lir(AGN_obscured) in solar luminosities, scale as log Lir(AGN_obscured) =
12.3+-0.25 + 2.6(+-0.3)log(1+z), and for the most luminous unobscured AGN,
scale as log Lir(AGN1) = 12.6+-0.15 + 2.6(+-0.3)log(1+z), indicating that the
most luminous AGN are about 10 times more luminous than the most luminous
starbursts. Results are consistent with obscured and unobscured AGN having the
same total luminosities with differences arising only from orientation, such
that the obscured AGN are observed through very dusty clouds which extinct
about 50% of the intrinsic luminosity at 8 um. Both obscured and unobscured AGN
should be detected to z ~ 6 by Spitzer surveys with fv(24 um) > 0.3 mJy, even
without luminosity evolution for z > 2.5. By contrast, the most luminous
starbursts cannot be detected for z > 3, even if luminosity evolution continues
beyond z = 2.5.Comment: Includes corrected Figure 3, as publishe
Whole-system approaches to improving the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers: A systematic review
This is the final version of the article. Available from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals throughout the developed world report higher levels of sickness absence, dissatisfaction, distress, and "burnout" at work than staff in other sectors. There is a growing call for the 'triple aim' of healthcare delivery (improving patient experience and outcomes and reducing costs; to include a fourth aim: improving healthcare staff experience of healthcare delivery. A systematic review commissioned by the United Kingdom's (UK) Department of Health reviewed a large number of international healthy workplace interventions and recommended five whole-system changes to improve healthcare staff health and wellbeing: identification and response to local need, engagement of staff at all levels, and the involvement, visible leadership from, and up-skilling of, management and board-level staff. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to identify whole-system healthy workplace interventions in healthcare settings that incorporate (combinations of) these recommendations and determine whether they improve staff health and wellbeing. METHODS: A comprehensive and systematic search of medical, education, exercise science, and social science databases was undertaken. Studies were included if they reported the results of interventions that included all healthcare staff within a healthcare setting (e.g. whole hospital; whole unit, e.g. ward) in collective activities to improve physical or mental health or promote healthy behaviours. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified which incorporated at least one of the whole-system recommendations. Interventions that incorporated recommendations to address local need and engage the whole workforce fell in to four broad types: 1) pre-determined (one-size-fits-all) and no choice of activities (two studies); or 2) pre-determined and some choice of activities (one study); 3) A wide choice of a range of activities and some adaptation to local needs (five studies); or, 3) a participatory approach to creating programmes responsive and adaptive to local staff needs that have extensive choice of activities to participate in (three studies). Only five of the interventions included substantial involvement and engagement of leadership and efforts aimed at up-skilling the leadership of staff to support staff health and wellbeing. Incorporation of more of the recommendations did not appear to be related to effectiveness. The heterogeneity of study designs, populations and outcomes excluded a meta-analysis. All studies were deemed by their authors to be at least partly effective. Two studies reported statistically significant improvement in objectively measured physical health (BMI) and eight in subjective mental health. Six studies reported statistically significant positive changes in subjectively assessed health behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review identified 11 studies which incorporate at least one of the Boorman recommendations and provides evidence that whole-system healthy workplace interventions can improve health and wellbeing and promote healthier behaviours in healthcare staff.Funding provided in part to the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (part of the University of Exeter Medical School) by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/erdf-programmes-and-resources) and European Social Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (http://www.erdfconvergence.org.uk/esf). This research was also funded in part by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula (http://clahrc-peninsula.nihr.ac.uk/) at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
The radio properties of optically obscured Spitzer sources
This paper analyses the radio properties of a subsample of optically obscured
(R>25.5) galaxies observed at 24um by the Spitzer Space Telescope within the
First Look Survey. 96 F[24um]>0.35 mJy objects out of 510 are found to have a
radio counterpart at 1.4 GHz, 610 MHz or at both frequencies respectively down
to ~40uJy and ~200uJy. IRAC photometry sets the majority of them in the
redshift interval z [1-3] and allows for a broad distinction between
AGN-dominated galaxies (~47% of the radio-identified sample) and systems
powered by intense star-formation (~13%), the remaining objects being
impossible to classify. The percentage of radio identifications is a strong
function of 24um flux. The radio number counts at both radio frequencies
suggest that the physical process(es) responsible for radio activity in these
objects have a common origin regardless of whether the source shows mid-IR
emission compatible with being an obscured AGN or a star-forming galaxy. We
also find that both candidate AGN and star-forming systems follow (although
with a large scatter) the relationship between 1.4 GHz and 24um fluxes reported
by Appleton et al. (2004) which identifies sources undergoing intense star
formation activity. On the other hand, the inferred radio spectral indices
alpha indicate that a large fraction of objects in our sample (~60% of all
galaxies with estimated alpha) may belong to the population of Ultra Steep
Spectrum (USS) Sources, typically 'frustrated' radio-loud AGN. We interpret our
findings as a strong indication for concurrent AGN and star-forming activity,
whereby the 1.4 GHz flux is of thermal origin, while that at 610 GHz mainly
stems from the nuclear source.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figures, to appear in MNRA
Constructing consistent multiscale scenarios by transdisciplinary processes : the case of mountain regions facing global change
Alpine regions in Europe, in particular, face demanding local challenges, e.g., the decline in the agriculture and timber industries, and are also prone to global changes, such as in climate, with potentially severe impacts on tourism. We focus on the Visp region in the Upper Valais, Switzerland, and ask how the process of stakeholder involvement in research practice can contribute to a better understanding of the specific challenges and future development of mountainous regions under global change. Based on a coupled human-environment system (HES) perspective, we carried out a formative scenario analysis to develop a set of scenarios for the future directions of the Visp region. In addition, we linked these regional scenarios to context scenarios developed at the global and Swiss levels via an external consistency analysis. This method allows the coupling of both the scenario building process and the scenarios as such. We used a functional-dynamic approach to theory-practice cooperation, i.e., the involvement of key stakeholders from, for example, tourism, forestry, and administration, differed in type and intensity during the steps of the research process. In our study, we experienced strong problem awareness among the stakeholders concerning the impacts of global change and local challenges. The guiding research question was commonly defined and problem ownership was more or less balanced. We arrived at six multiscale scenarios that open up future trajectories for the Visp region, and present generic strategies to cope with global and local challenges. The results show that local identity, spatial planning, community budget, and demographic development are important steering elements in the region’s future development. We suggest that method-guided transdisciplinary processes result in a richer picture and a more systemic understanding, which enable a discussion of critical and surprising issues
Spitzer Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of 70um-Selected Distant Luminous Infrared Galaxies
We present mid-infrared spectroscopy obtained with the Spitzer Space
Telescope of a sample of 11 optically faint, infrared luminous galaxies
selected from a Spitzer MIPS 70um imaging survey of the NDWFS Bootes field.
These are the first Spitzer IRS spectra presented of distant 70um-selected
sources. All the galaxies lie at redshifts 0.3<z<1.3 and have very large
infrared luminosities of L_IR~ 0.1-17 x 10^12 solar luminosities. Seven of the
galaxies exhibit strong emission features attributed to polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). The average IRS spectrum of these sources is
characteristic of classical starburst galaxies, but with much larger infrared
luminosities. The PAH luminosities of L(7.7) ~ 0.4 - 7 x 10^11 solar
luminosities imply star formation rates of ~ 40 - 720 solar masses per year.
Four of the galaxies show deep 9.7um silicate absorption features and no
significant PAH emission features (6.2um equivalent widths < 0.03um). The large
infrared luminosities and low f70/f24 flux density ratios suggests that these
sources have AGN as the dominant origin of their large mid-infrared
luminosities, although deeply embedded but luminous starbursts cannot be ruled
out. If the absorbed sources are AGN-dominated, a significant fraction of all
far-infrared bright, optically faint sources may be dominated by AGN.Comment: 8 Pages, ApJ accepte
Morphologies of High Redshift, Dust Obscured Galaxies from Keck Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics
Spitzer MIPS images in the Bootes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey
have revealed a class of extremely dust obscured galaxy (DOG) at z~2. The DOGs
are defined by very red optical to mid-IR (observed-frame) colors, R - [24 um]
> 14 mag, i.e. f_v (24 um) / f_v (R) > 1000. They are Ultra-Luminous Infrared
Galaxies with L_8-1000 um > 10^12 -10^14 L_sun, but typically have very faint
optical (rest-frame UV) fluxes. We imaged three DOGs with the Keck Laser Guide
Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO) system, obtaining ~0.06'' resolution in the
K'-band. One system was dominated by a point source, while the other two were
clearly resolved. Of the resolved sources, one can be modeled as a exponential
disk system. The other is consistent with a de Vaucouleurs profile typical of
elliptical galaxies. The non-parametric measures of their concentration and
asymmetry, show the DOGs to be both compact and smooth. The AO images rule out
double nuclei with separations of greater than 0.1'' (< 1 kpc at z=2), making
it unlikely that ongoing major mergers (mass ratios of 1/3 and greater) are
triggering the high IR luminosities. By contrast, high resolution images of z~2
SCUBA sources tend to show multiple components and a higher degree of
asymmetry. We compare near-IR morphologies of the DOGs with a set of z=1
luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs; L_IR ~ 10^11 L_sun) imaged with Keck LGSAO
by the Center for Adaptive Optics Treasury Survey. The DOGs in our sample have
significantly smaller effective radii, ~1/4 the size of the z=1 LIRGs, and tend
towards higher concentrations. The small sizes and high concentrations may help
explain the globally obscured rest-frame blue-to-UV emission of the DOGs.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journa
The Merger-Triggered Active Galactic Nuclei Contribution to the Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy Population
It has long been thought that there is a connection between ultraluminous
infrared galaxies (ULIRGs), quasars, and major mergers. Indeed, simulations
show that major mergers are capable of triggering massive starbursts and
quasars. However, observations by the Herschel Space Observatory suggest that,
at least at high redshift, there may not always be a simple causal connection
between ULIRGs and mergers. Here, we combine an evolving merger-triggered AGN
luminosity function with a merger-triggered starburst model to calculate the
maximum contribution of major mergers to the ULIRG population. We find that
major mergers can account for the entire local population of ULIRGs hosting AGN
and ~25% of the total local ULIRG luminosity density. By z ~ 1, major mergers
can no longer account for the luminosity density of ULIRGs hosting AGN and
contribute \lesssim 12% of the total ULIRG luminosity density. This drop is
likely due to high redshift galaxies being more gas rich and therefore able to
achieve high star formation rates through secular evolution. Additionally, we
find that major mergers can account for the local population of warm ULIRGs.
This suggests that selecting high redshift warm ULIRGs will allow for the
identification of high redshift merger-triggered ULIRGs. As major mergers are
likely to trigger very highly obscured AGN, a significant fraction of the high
redshift warm ULIRG population may host Compton thick AGN.Comment: Accepted ApJL, 3 figure
Designing for change: The poetic potential of responsive architecture
The integration of responsive components in architecture offers the potential to enhance the experience of the building by giving expression to fleeting, changeable aspects of the environment. Responsive buildings enable a physical response to changes in the environment through specific building elements; in rare cases these responsive elements become an integral and poetic element of a culturally significant work of architecture. In this paper I examine two types of responsiveness, one which concerns the changing environment and another the activities and needs of the building׳s inhabitants. I look at two examples of buildings that illustrate a potential poetic role for architectural components responding to these two types of change, and propose that architects will need to acquire experience with designing for specific rates, scales and types of change before responsive elements will more frequently appear as a poetic and integral part of the building
Redshift Distribution of Extragalactic 24 micron Sources
We present the redshift distribution of a complete, unbiased sample of 24
micron sources down to fnu(24 micron) = 300 uJy (5-sigma). The sample consists
of 591 sources detected in the Bootes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey.
We have obtained optical spectroscopic redshifts for 421 sources (71%). These
have a redshift distribution peaking at z~0.3, with a possible additional peak
at z~0.9, and objects detected out to z=4.5. The spectra of the remaining 170
(29%) exhibit no strong emission lines from which to determine a redshift. We
develop an algorithm to estimate the redshift distribution of these sources,
based on the assumption that they have emission lines but that these lines are
not observable due to the limited wavelength coverage of our spectroscopic
observations. The redshift distribution derived from all 591 sources exhibits
an additional peak of extremely luminous (L(8-1000 micron) > 3 x 10^{12} Lsun)
objects at z~2, consisting primarily of sources without observable emission
lines. We use optical line diagnostics and IRAC colors to estimate that 55% of
the sources within this peak are AGN-dominated. We compare our results to
published models of the evolution of infrared luminous galaxies. The models
which best reproduce our observations predict a large population of
star-formation dominated ULIRGs at z > 1.5 rather than the AGN-dominated
sources we observe.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures; accepted for publication in Ap
The Origin of the 24-micron Excess in Red Galaxies
Observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope have revealed a population of
red-sequence galaxies with a significant excess in their 24-micron emission
compared to what is expected from an old stellar population. We identify 900
red galaxies with 0.15<z<0.3 from the AGN and Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES)
selected from the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Bootes field. Using Spitzer/MIPS,
we classify 89 (~10%) with 24-micron infrared excess (f24>0.3 mJy). We
determine the prevalence of AGN and star-formation activity in all the AGES
galaxies using optical line diagnostics and mid-IR color-color criteria. Using
the IRAC color-color diagram from the IRAC Shallow Survey, we find that 64% of
the 24-micron excess red galaxies are likely to have strong PAH emission
features in the 8-micron IRAC band. This fraction is significantly larger than
the 5% of red galaxies with f24<0.3 mJy that are estimated to have strong PAH
emission, suggesting that the infrared emission is largely due to
star-formation processes. Only 15% of the 24-micron excess red galaxies have
optical line diagnostics characteristic of star-formation (64% are classified
as AGN and 21% are unclassifiable). The difference between the optical and
infrared results suggest that both AGN and star-formation activity is occurring
simultaneously in many of the 24-micron excess red galaxies. These results
should serve as a warning to studies that exclusively use optical line
diagnostics to determine the dominant emission mechanism in the infrared and
other bands. We find that ~40% of the 24-micron excess red galaxies are edge-on
spiral galaxies with high optical extinctions. The remaining sources are likely
to be red galaxies whose 24-micron emission comes from a combination of
obscured AGN and star-formation activity.Comment: ApJ, accepted; 11 pages, 7 figures; corrected reference to IRAC
Shallow Survey in abstrac
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