The cold, the hot, and the puffy: atmospheric lessons from three transiting exoplanets

Exoplanets are complex astrophysical bodies but are difficult to study in detail. Despite the challenges, we are starting to solve the interrelated puzzles of what exoplanets are made of; how they evolve; and how their atmospheric dynamics work. Exoplanet atmospheres have particularly small measurable signatures, to which we must apply precise and innovative observations. We must choose case-study planets carefully, as time on the best telescopes is limited. One solution is to study extreme systems (e.g. the coldest, the hottest, the lowest-density planets), which are laboratories for testing our understanding of atmospheric physics at their limits. To that end, the three projects presented here are observations of extreme gas-giant exoplanets that transit their host stars. Firstly, using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)’s Wide Field Camera 3 instrument (WFC3), we measured the 0.8 - 1.1 μm transmission spectrum of WASP-107b, which has a relatively cold equilibrium temperature of 700 K. With these observations we detected helium on an exoplanet for the first time, via the 10 830 ̊A line of metastable helium, and showed that WASP-107b has an extended and possibly escaping upper atmosphere. Secondly, we observed a near-infrared phase curve of the hot (2 100 K) exoplanet WASP-19b with HST’s WFC3, covering the 1.1 - 1.7μm wavelength range. We detected a large hotspot offset in its phase curve (60◦ in longitude), which means WASP-19b likely has strong equa- torial winds in its deep (1 bar) atmosphere. Thirdly, WASP-127b is one of the lowest-density planets known to science and an attractive target for atmospheric characterisation. We observed a near-ultraviolet to near-infrared transmission spec- trum, covering 0.3-5μm, of WASP-127b using HST and the Spitzer space telescope. On this planet, we detected sodium, potassium, water, carbon-bearing species, and some unknown hazes and clouds. In summary of our contributions to the puzzles mentioned above: we introduced a new method to observe exoplanet atmospheres and escape processes; we added to the growing sample of measurements of heat transport in exoplanet atmospheres; and we made a step towards determining the atmospheric composition of an ideal planet for study with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.Science and Technology Facilities Counci

Innovative physical therapy practice: a qualitative verification of factors that support diffusion of innovation in outpatient physical therapy practice

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background and purpose: New ideas, methods, and technologies spread through cultures through typical patterns described by diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. Professional cultures, including the physical therapy profession, have distinctive features and traditions that determine the adoption of practice innovation. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) proposes a framework of innovation implementation specific to health care services. While the CFIR has been applied to medical and nursing practice, it has not been extended to rehabilitation professions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to verify the CFIR factors in outpatient physical therapy practice. Design: Through a nomination process of area rehabilitation managers and area directors of clinical education, 2 exemplar, outpatient, privately owned physical therapy clinics were identified as innovation practices. A total of 18 physical therapists (PTs), including 3 owners and a manager, participated in the study. Methods: The 2 clinics served as case studies within a qualitative approach of directed content analysis. Data were collected through observation, spontaneous, unstructured questioning, ­workflow analysis, structured focus group sessions, and artifact analysis including clinical documents. Focus group data were transcribed. All the data were analyzed and coded among 4 investigators. Results: Through data analysis and alignment with literature in DOI theory in health care practice, the factors that determine innovation adoption were verified. The phenomena of implementation in PT practice are largely consistent with models of implementation in health care service. Within the outpatient practices studied, patient-centered care and collaborative learning were foundational elements to diffusion of an innovation. Conclusion: Innovation in outpatient physical therapy practice can be understood as a social process situated within the culture of the physical therapy professional that follows predictable patterns that strongly align with DOI theory and the CFIR

Similar biodiversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in set-aside plantations and ancient old-growth broadleaved forests

Setting aside overmature planted forests is currently seen as an option for preserving species associated with old-growth forests, such as those with dispersal limitation. Few data exist, however, on the utility of set-aside plantations for this purpose, or the value of this habitat type for biodiversity relative to old-growth semi-natural ecosystems. Here, we evaluate the contribution of forest type relative to habitat characteristics in determining species richness and composition in seven forest blocks, each containing an ancient old-growth stand (> 1000 yrs) paired with a set-aside even-aged planted stand (ca. 180 yrs). We investigated the functionally important yet relatively neglected ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), a group for which the importance of forest age has not been assessed in broadleaved forests. We found that forest type was not an important determinant of EMF species richness or composition, demonstrating that set-aside can be an effective option for conserving ancient EMF communities. Species richness of above-ground EMF fruiting bodies was principally related to the basal area of the stand (a correlate of canopy cover) and tree species diversity, whilst richness of below-ground ectomycorrhizae was driven only by tree diversity. Our results suggest that overmature planted forest stands, particularly those that are mixed-woods with high basal area, are an effective means to connect and expand ecological networks of ancient old-growth forests in historically deforested and fragmented landscapes for ectomycorrhizal fungi

Juvenile Body Mass Estimation from the Femur Using Postmortem Computed Tomography Data

Skeletal estimation methods to reconstruct the juvenile biological profile are largely limited to those estimating age, and to a lesser extent, sex. While body mass is not generally estimated as part of the biological profile in forensic investigations, this is a logical candidate for inclusion in the forensic biological profile, as it has long been of interest in paleoanthropology and several methods to estimate juvenile body mass currently exist. To explore the performance of body mass estimation for juveniles, we test the accuracy and precision of previously published panel regression formulae using two femoral measurements: the breadth of the distal metaphysis and the cross-sectional polar moment of inertia (J). The test sample consists of measurements of 94 individuals aged birth to 12.5 years, taken from post-mortem computed tomography scans housed at the Office of the Medical Investigator, New Mexico, USA. Results indicate that body mass estimates are more accurate when estimated from cross-sectional rather than metaphyseal measures. Both formulae, however, consistently underestimate weight, and the magnitude of the underestimation increases exponentially with age. This suggests that contrary to what others have argued, body mass estimation is complicated by population variation in body composition. This study reinforces the importance of documenting and investigating the ontogeny of human variation. The global increase in medical imaging in clinical settings can be leveraged to obtain skeletal data for juveniles from a wide range of ontogenic environments, marking an exciting time for the study of human variation

Assessing Knowledge Mobilization and Retention in Teaching Archaeological Theory

How are difficult and often unfamiliar concepts best taught in the classroom in ways that the information conveyed is retained? This study discusses the challenge faced in teaching an intensive, undergraduate Archaeological Theory that is regularly taught at Simon Fraser University. A survey of enrolled students was designed and twice administered to evaluate the effectiveness of different teaching methods and student learning practices. The results of the survey, plus other sources of information, provide an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of information transmission and retention in the classroom

Impact of Freshman Transition Interventions on Ninth Grade Academic Achievement

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of various freshman transition interventions on student academic achievement. Specifically, this study aimed to measure academic success by focusing upon ninth grade End of Course Test (EOCT) scores. The data were collected using a researcher-developed survey. After securing permission from all superintendents, the survey was electronically mailed to all high school principals within the state of Georgia. Among participating systems, the survey response rate was 78.4 percent. Based upon expert opinion, the twenty individual intervention items were categorized into three domains. The domain data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The researcher also ran correlative analysis. The results of this study indicated that no statistical significance existed regarding the implementation of freshman transition interventions and ninth grade EOCT scores. These results have probable implications for public school systems within the state of Georgia as how to best design the most effective programming for incoming ninth graders. Additionally, this information can assist educators, both at the district and state level, in designing the most effective and cost-effective strategies for transition intervention

K2 Variable Catalogue: Variable Stars and Eclipsing Binaries in K2 Campaigns 1 and 0

We have created a catalogue of variable stars found from a search of the publicly available K2 mission data from Campaigns 1 and 0. This catalogue provides the identifiers of 8395 variable stars, including 199 candidate eclipsing binaries with periods up to 60d and 3871 periodic or quasi-periodic objects, with periods up to 20d for Campaign 1 and 15d for Campaign 0. Lightcurves are extracted and detrended from the available data. These are searched using a combination of algorithmic and human classification, leading to a classifier for each object as an eclipsing binary, sinusoidal periodic, quasi periodic, or aperiodic variable. The source of the variability is not identified, but could arise in the non-eclipsing binary cases from pulsation or stellar activity. Each object is cross-matched against variable star related guest observer proposals to the K2 mission, which specifies the variable type in some cases. The detrended lightcurves are also compared to lightcurves currently publicly available. The resulting catalogue is made available online via the MAST archive at https://archive.stsci.edu/prepds/k2varcat/, and gives the ID, type, period, semi-amplitude and range of the variation seen. We also make available the detrended lightcurves for each object.Comment: Accepted by A&A. 6 pages, 6 figures. Catalogue and lightcurves are available online via MAST at https://archive.stsci.edu/prepds/k2varcat

K2 Variable Catalogue II: Machine Learning Classification of Variable Stars and Eclipsing Binaries in K2 Fields 0-4

We are entering an era of unprecedented quantities of data from current and planned survey telescopes. To maximise the potential of such surveys, automated data analysis techniques are required. Here we implement a new methodology for variable star classification, through the combination of Kohonen Self Organising Maps (SOM, an unsupervised machine learning algorithm) and the more common Random Forest (RF) supervised machine learning technique. We apply this method to data from the K2 mission fields 0-4, finding 154 ab-type RR Lyraes (10 newly discovered), 377 Delta Scuti pulsators, 133 Gamma Doradus pulsators, 183 detached eclipsing binaries, 290 semi-detached or contact eclipsing binaries and 9399 other periodic (mostly spot-modulated) sources, once class significance cuts are taken into account. We present lightcurve features for all K2 stellar targets, including their three strongest detected frequencies, which can be used to study stellar rotation periods where the observed variability arises from spot modulation. The resulting catalogue of variable stars, classes, and associated data features are made available online. We publish our SOM code in Python as part of the open source PyMVPA package, which in combination with already available RF modules can be easily used to recreate the method.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 16 pages, 13 figures. Updated with proof corrections. Full catalogue tables available at https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/research/astro/people/armstrong/ or at the CD