154 research outputs found
The Big Society and the Conjunction of Crises: Justifying Welfare Reform and Undermining Social Housing
The idea of the âBig Societyâ can be seen as culmination of a long-standing debate about the regulation of welfare. Situating the concept within governance theory, the article considers how the UK coalition government has justified a radical restructuring of welfare provision, and considers its implications for housing provision. Although drawing on earlier modernization processes, the article contends that the genesis for welfare reform was based on an analysis that the government was forced to respond to a unique conjunction of crises: in morality, the state, ideology and economics. The government has therefore embarked upon a programme, which has served to undermine the legitimacy of the social housing sector (most notably in England), with detrimental consequences for residents and raising significant dilemmas for those working in the housing sector
Supernova 2007bi as a pair-instability explosion
Stars with initial masses 10 M_{solar} < M_{initial} < 100 M_{solar} fuse
progressively heavier elements in their centres, up to inert iron. The core
then gravitationally collapses to a neutron star or a black hole, leading to an
explosion -- an iron-core-collapse supernova (SN). In contrast, extremely
massive stars (M_{initial} > 140 M_{solar}), if such exist, have oxygen cores
which exceed M_{core} = 50 M_{solar}. There, high temperatures are reached at
relatively low densities. Conversion of energetic, pressure-supporting photons
into electron-positron pairs occurs prior to oxygen ignition, and leads to a
violent contraction that triggers a catastrophic nuclear explosion. Tremendous
energies (>~ 10^{52} erg) are released, completely unbinding the star in a
pair-instability SN (PISN), with no compact remnant. Transitional objects with
100 M_{solar} < M_{initial} < 140 M_{solar}, which end up as iron-core-collapse
supernovae following violent mass ejections, perhaps due to short instances of
the pair instability, may have been identified. However, genuine PISNe, perhaps
common in the early Universe, have not been observed to date. Here, we present
our discovery of SN 2007bi, a luminous, slowly evolving supernova located
within a dwarf galaxy (~1% the size of the Milky Way). We measure the exploding
core mass to be likely ~100 M_{solar}, in which case theory unambiguously
predicts a PISN outcome. We show that >3 M_{solar} of radioactive 56Ni were
synthesized, and that our observations are well fit by PISN models. A PISN
explosion in the local Universe indicates that nearby dwarf galaxies probably
host extremely massive stars, above the apparent Galactic limit, perhaps
resulting from star formation processes similar to those that created the first
stars in the Universe.Comment: Accepted version of the paper appearing in Nature, 462, 624 (2009),
including all supplementary informatio
Le FORUM, Vol. 34 No. 3
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1027/thumbnail.jp
Hubble space telescope observations of high-velocity Lyα and Hα emission from supernova remnant 1987A: The structure and development of the reverse shock
We present two-dimensional line profiles of high-velocity (âŒÂ±12,000 km s -1) Lyα and Hα emission from supernova remnant 1987A obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph between 1997 September and 2001 September (days 3869-5327 after the explosion). This emission comes from hydrogen in the debris that is excited and ionized as it passes through the remnant's reverse shock. We use these profiles to measure the geometry and development of the reverse-shock surface. The observed emission is confined within âŒÂ±30° about the remnant's equatorial plane. At the equator, the reverse shock has a radius of âŒ75% of the distance to the equatorial ring. We detect marginal differences (6% ± 3%) between the location of the reverse-shock front in the northeast and southwest parts of the remnant. The radius of the reverse shock surface increases for latitudes above the equator, a geometry consistent with a model in which the supernova debris expands into a bipolar nebula. Assuming that the outer supernova debris has a power-law density distribution, we can infer from the reverse-shock emission light curve an expansion rate (in the northeast part of the remnant) of 3700 ± 900 km s -1, consistent with the expansion velocities determined from observations in radio (Manchester et al.) and X-ray (Park et al.; Michael et al.) wavelengths. However, our most recent observation (at day 5327) suggests that the rate of increase of mass flux across the northeast sector of the reverse shock has accelerated, perhaps because of deceleration of the reverse shock caused by the arrival of a reflected shock created when the blast wave struck the inner ring. Resonant scattering within the supernova debris causes Lyα photons created at the reverse shock to be directed preferentially outward, resulting in a factor of âŒ5 difference in the observed brightness of the reverse shock in Lyαa between the near and far sides of the remnant. Accounting for this effect, we compare the observed reverse-shock Lyα and Hα fluxes to infer the amount of interstellar extinction by dust as E(B - V) = 0.17 ± 0.01 mag. We also notice extinction by dust in the equatorial ring with E(B - V) â 0.02-0.08 mag, which implies dust-to-gas ratios similar to that of the LMC. Since Hα photons are optically thin to scattering, the observed asymmetry in brightness of Hα from the near and far sides of the remnant represents a real asymmetry in the mass flux through the reverse shock of âŒ30%. We discuss future observational strategies that will permit us to further investigate the reverse-shock dynamics and resonant scattering of the Lyα line and to constrain better the extinction by dust within and in front of the remnant.published_or_final_versio
f(R) theories
Over the past decade, f(R) theories have been extensively studied as one of
the simplest modifications to General Relativity. In this article we review
various applications of f(R) theories to cosmology and gravity - such as
inflation, dark energy, local gravity constraints, cosmological perturbations,
and spherically symmetric solutions in weak and strong gravitational
backgrounds. We present a number of ways to distinguish those theories from
General Relativity observationally and experimentally. We also discuss the
extension to other modified gravity theories such as Brans-Dicke theory and
Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and address models that can satisfy both cosmological and
local gravity constraints.Comment: 156 pages, 14 figures, Invited review article in Living Reviews in
Relativity, Published version, Comments are welcom
Le FORUM, Vol. 35 No. 2
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1030/thumbnail.jp
Absent fathersâ, and childrenâs social and emotional learning: an exploration of the perceptions of âpositive male role modelsâ in the primary school sector
This paper focuses on the testimonies of three male primary school staff members who utilised social and emotional learning (SEL) in their everyday practice within their respective schools. The data, collected through individual interviews, illustrate how these three men interpreted SEL, and their role in the development of childrenâs social, emotional and behavioural (SEB) skills, in response to their perceptions of pupilsâ home-life. In particular, the sample identified the childrenâs fathersâ perceived ability/inability as a main cause of pupilsâ SEB deficiencies. Consequently, the three male staff members maintained that in order to advocate and encourage alternative, appropriate behaviours, they should act as âreplacement fathersâ and become ârole modelsâ. The findings contribute to existing debates relating to the notion of âpositive male role modelsâ in primary schools and the propensity for staff to engage in parental blame. The implications of these findings are discussed, and suggestions that call for a more democratic and cooperative exchange of knowledge between parents and teachers are made
Golimumab induction and maintenance for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: results from GO-COLITIS (Golimumab: a Phase 4, UK, open label, single arm study on its utilization and impact in ulcerative Colitis)
Objective GO-COLITIS aimed to measure the effectiveness of subcutaneous golimumab in tumour necrosis factor-α antagonistânaive patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) despite conventional treatment.
Design GO-COLITIS was an open label, single arm, phase 4 study with a pragmatic design which reflected UK clinical practice. Adult patients were eligible if diagnosed with UC â„3 months, partial Mayo score (PMS) 4â9. Patients received subcutaneous golimumab induction (200âmg initially and 100âmg at week 2) followed at week 6 by 50âmg or 100âmg (depending on weight) every 4 weeks until week 54 with a 12-week follow-up. Efficacy was measured by PMS at baseline, week 6, 30, 54 and 66. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and EuroQol Group 5 Dimensions Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D)) was assessed at baseline, week 6 and week 54. All safety adverse events (AEs) were recorded.
Results 207 patients were enrolled and 205 received golimumab (full analysis set (FAS)205). At week 6, 68.8% (95% CI 62.0% to 75.1%) and 38.5% (95% CI 31.8% to 45.6%) of patients were in response and remission, respectively, using PMS. At the end of the induction phase, 140/141 patients in clinical response continued into the maintenance phase (Maintenance FAS). Sustained clinical response through week 54 was achieved in 51/205 (24.9%) of the FAS205 population and 51/140 (36.4%) of the Maintenance FAS population. Statistically significant improvements from baseline to week 6 were observed for the IBDQ total score and for each IBDQ domain score (bowel symptoms, emotional function, systemic symptoms and social function), as well as the EQ-5D index score and associated visual analogue scale score (p<0.0001). Improvement of HRQoL was sustained through week 54. Serious AEs leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 8.8% of patients.
Conclusion In this study measuring patient-reported outcomes in patients with moderate to severe UC, golimumab induced and maintained response as measured by PMS and significantly improved quality of life measures.
Trial registration number NCT02092285; 2013-004583-56
Origin and ascent history of unusually crystal-rich alkaline basaltic magmas from the western Pannonian Basin
The last eruptions of the monogenetic Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field
(western Pannonian Basin, Hungary) produced unusually crystal- and xenolith-rich
alkaline basalts which are unique among the alkaline basalts of the Carpathian-
Pannonian Region. Similar alkaline basalts are only rarely known in other volcanic
fields of the world. These special basaltic magmas fed the eruptions of two closely
located volcanic centres: the BondorĂł-hegy and the FĂŒzes-tĂł scoria cone. Their
uncommon enrichment in diverse crystals produced unique rock textures and modified
original magma compositions (13.1-14.2 wt.% MgO, 459-657 ppm Cr, 455-564 ppm Ni
contents).
Detailed mineral-scale textural and chemical analyses revealed that the BondorĂł-hegy
and FĂŒzes-tĂł alkaline basaltic magmas have a complex ascent history, and that most
of their minerals (~30 vol.% of the rocks) represent foreign crystals derived from
different levels of the underlying lithosphere. The most abundant xenocrysts, olivine,
orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel, were incorporated from different regions and
rock types of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Megacrysts of clinopyroxene and
spinel could have originated from pegmatitic veins / sills which probably represent
magmas crystallized near the crust-mantle boundary. Green clinopyroxene xenocrysts
could have been derived from lower crustal mafic granulites. Minerals that crystallized
in situ from the alkaline basaltic melts (olivine with Cr-spinel inclusions, clinopyroxene,
plagioclase, Fe-Ti oxides) are only represented by microphenocrysts and overgrowths
on the foreign crystals. The vast amount of peridotitic (most common) and mafic
granulitic materials indicates a highly effective interaction between the ascending
magmas and wall rocks at lithospheric mantle and lower crustal levels. However,
fragments from the middle and upper crust are absent from the studied basalts,
suggesting a change in the style (and possibly rate) of magma ascent in the crust.
These xenocryst- and xenolith-rich basalts yield divers tools for estimating magma
ascent rate that is important for hazard forecasting in monogenetic volcanic fields.
According to the estimated ascent rates, the BondorĂł-hegy and FĂŒzes-tĂł alkaline
basaltic magmas could have reached the surface within hours to few days, similarly to
the estimates for other eruptive centres in the Pannonian Basin which were fed by
"normal" (crystal- and xenolith-poor) alkaline basalts
Observation of a ppb mass threshoud enhancement in \psi^\prime\to\pi^+\pi^-J/\psi(J/\psi\to\gamma p\bar{p}) decay
The decay channel
is studied using a sample of events collected
by the BESIII experiment at BEPCII. A strong enhancement at threshold is
observed in the invariant mass spectrum. The enhancement can be fit
with an -wave Breit-Wigner resonance function with a resulting peak mass of
and a
narrow width that is at the 90% confidence level.
These results are consistent with published BESII results. These mass and width
values do not match with those of any known meson resonance.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Chinese Physics
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