Infrared interferometry to spatially and spectrally resolve jets in X-ray binaries

Infrared interferometry is a new frontier for precision ground based observing, with new instrumentation achieving milliarcsecond (mas) spatial resolutions for faint sources, along with astrometry on the order of 10 microarcseconds. This technique has already led to breakthroughs in the observations of the supermassive black hole at the Galactic centre and its orbiting stars, AGN, and exo-planets, and can be employed for studying X-ray binaries (XRBs), microquasars in particular. Beyond constraining the orbital parameters of the system using the centroid wobble and spatially resolving jet discrete ejections on mas scales, we also propose a novel method to discern between the various components contributing to the infrared bands: accretion disk, jets and companion star. We demonstrate that the GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) should be able to detect a centroid shift in a number of sources, opening a new avenue of exploration for the myriad of transients expected to be discovered in the coming decade of radio all-sky surveys. We also present the first proof-of-concept GRAVITY observation of a low-mass X-ray binary transient, MAXI J1820+070, to search for extended jets on mas scales. We place the tightest constraints yet via direct imaging on the size of the infrared emitting region of the compact jet in a hard state XRB.Comment: 12 Pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Rediscovery of the syntypes of California Quail Tetrao californicus Shaw, 1798, and comments on the current labelling of the holotype of California Condor Vultur californianus Shaw, 1797

The two syntypes of California Quail Tetrao californicus Shaw, 1798, were deposited in the British Museum in the 1790s, but were last documented as present in the late 1860s and had subsequently been presumed no longer extant. In 2004, they were re-discovered in Notingham Natural History Museum, to which they must have been inadvertently passed as ‘duplicates’ in the late 1800s, and have now been returned to the Natural History Museum, Tring, on extended renewable loan. During research regarding these Archibald Menzies specimens, new insight was gained into hitherto confusing reference details on the label of his type specimen of California Condor Vultur californianus Shaw, 1797© 2014 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2014 British Ornithologists’ Club. This is an open access article free to all. The attached file is the published pdf

Interface shear strength variability and its use in reliability-based landfill stability analysis

Failure of modern landfills by slippage of lining materials and waste bodies is not uncommon. The majority of failures are controlled by slippage at interfaces between lining components. Information on variability of interface shear strength is required both to carry out limit equilibrium stability analysis using characteristic shear strengths and to analyse the probability of failure. Current practice is to carry out a limited number of site-specific tests, and this provides insufficient information on the variability of interface strength for design. A summary of measured strengths and an assessment of variability are presented for seven generic interfaces common in landfill lining systems. This combines values from the international literature, from an internal database, and from the results of repeatability testing programmes. The implications of variable shear strength are examined though failure probability analysis for two common design cases – veneer and waste body slippage – and this adds to the small number of studies published previously. The reliability analyses show that relatively high probabilities of failure are obtained when using variability values from the literature and an internal database, even when factors of safety ≥ 1.5. The use of repeatability data produces lower probabilities for typically used factors of safety, although they are still higher than recommended target probability of failure values

Landfill stability and integrity: the UK design approach

This paper highlights the design considerations, in terms of stability and integrity, for EC Landfill Directive compliant sites. The paper details a design chart based on research and development reports produced for the Environment Agency (England and Wales) intended to guide designers and highlight areas for consideration in each of six aspects of landfill construction: subgrade, basal lining system, shallow-slope lining system, steep-slope lining system, waste slopes and capping lining systems. The paper is not intended to offer design methodologies in terms of which calculation methods should be adopted, but to provide designers with a framework in which to apply engineering skill and judgement and to highlight challenges

Structural performance of a steep slope landfill lining system

The stability and integrity of a landfill barrier, in both the short and the long term, are vital to performance as a containment system for leachate and landfill gas, and are a requirement of the UK permitting process. The structural performance of steep, non-self-supporting barrier systems depends in part on the adjacent waste body for lateral support. This paper presents the results of an investigation into structural performance during construction of a typical UK mineral steep slope landfill lining system. Instrument installation, monitoring and results are presented. Measurements and observations have shown shear and overturning modes of clay barrier failure, leading to loss of integrity. Normal stresses measured at the waste/barrier interface demonstrate that waste adjacent to the barrier provides low and variable lateral support. It is concluded that this has led to the observed failure mechanisms. Temporary conditions during phased construction are shown to be critical. This investigation has demonstrated that current UK municipal solid waste, placed using standard practices, cannot by itself provide sufficient support to ensure the integrity of a clay barrier in a steep slope lining system. Waste/barrier interaction must be considered as part of the design process

Landfill capping stability: tapered solution with seepage

The capping system is one of the major structural elements in modern landfills. When using artificial sealing materials (e.g. a geomembrane) as the capping liner, the stability of the cover soils and integrity of the geosynthethics need to be assessed. Traditional design methods only consider uniform cover soil thickness with different degrees of saturation and seepage build-up (i.e. parallel submergency ratio). This paper proposes an analytical method which includes the seepage build-up in the stability analysis for the capping slope with a tapered cover soil profile, that is when cover soils become thicker from top to bottom. Both the parallel (modified) and horizontal seepage force build-up patterns have been considered and analysed. The proposed analytical methods are applied to a design case in which uniform thickness cover soils are considered. The results are comparable to those of the traditional methods and therefore they are verified. Parametric analyses have confirmed the tapered profile can effectively improve the capping slope stability and indicated that the interface shear strength (between the cover soil and the underlying geosynthetic) and cover soil shear strength have the most significant effects on the capping slope stability

The Reliability of Neuromuscular and Perceptual Measures Used to Profile Recovery, and the Time-Course of such Responses following Academy Rugby League Match-Play.

In professional academy rugby league (RL) players, this two-part study examined; A) the within- and between-day reliability of isometric mid-thigh pulls (IMTP), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and a wellness questionnaire (n = 11), and B) profiled the responses with acceptable reliability (no between-trial differences and between-day coefficient of variation (CV) ≤10% and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ≥0.8) for 120 h (baseline: -3, +24, +48, +72, +96, +120 h) following RL match-play (n = 10). In part A, force at 200, and 250 ms, and peak force (PF) demonstrated acceptable within- (CV%: 3.67-8.41%, ICC: 0.89-0.93) and between-day (CV%: 4.34-8.62%, ICC: 0.87-0.92) reliability for IMTP. Most CMJ variables demonstrated acceptable within-day reliability (CV%: 3.03-7.34%, ICC: 0.82-0.98), but only six (i.e., flight-time, PF, peak power (PP), relative PP, velocity at take-off (VTO), jump-height (JH)) showed acceptable between-day reliability (CV%: 2.56-6.79%, ICC: 0.83-0.91). Only total wellness demonstrated acceptable between-day reliability (CV%: 7.05%, ICC: 0.90) from the questionnaire. In part B, reductions of 4.75% and 9.23% (vs. baseline; 2.54 m∙s-1; 0.33 m) occurred at +24 h for CMJ VTO, and JH, respectively. Acceptable reliability was observed in some, but not all, variables and the magnitude and time-course of post-match responses were test and variable specific. Practitioners should therefore be mindful of the influence that the choice of recovery monitoring tool may have upon the practical interpretation of the data

Design of a Digital Triaxial Force Sensor for Plantar Load Measurements

Measurement of load information on the plantar (lower) surface of the foot can provide valuable insights to help identify pathologies like diabetic foot ulcers. Studies have shown that both plantar pressure and shear stress play an important role in foot disorders, especially ulcer formation. However, in this context shear stress is much less studied in comparison with pressure distribution, mainly due to the lack of reliable measurement technologies. In this paper, we propose a triaxial force sensor for measuring plantar loading. The sensor consists of an array of sensing coils combined with an elastomeric spacer and a conductive target. Under loading, the sensor demonstrates differential variations in inductance which are digitized by built-in conditioning circuitry and decoupled. A 3D finite element (FE) model was developed for the system as a design tool. This was validated experimentally and demonstrated a high agreement to the results. In experimental evaluation with multiaxial loading the sensor showed precise operation over the operating range (RMSE: 0.05 N for shear (-1.5 N - 1.5 N) and 0.70 N for normal force (0-13 N) measurements). The FE model was then used to investigate the effect of undesirable tilting of the target. The results indicated that it is important to minimize the tilting of the target for robust operation in real-world scenarios

Projected long-term outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with fast-acting insulin aspart versus conventional insulin aspart in the UK setting

Aims: Many patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) fail to achieve optimal glycemic control and mealtime insulins that more closely match physiological insulin secretion can help improve treatment. In the onset 1 trial, fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) was shown to improve glycemic control in patients with T1DM compared with conventional insulin aspart (insulin aspart). In the UK, faster aspart and insulin aspart are associated with the same acquisition cost, and therefore the present analysis assessed the impact of faster aspart versus insulin aspart on long-term clinical outcomes and costs for patients with T1DM in the UK setting. Methods: The QuintilesIMS CORE Diabetes Model was used to project clinical outcomes and costs over patient lifetimes in a cohort with baseline characteristics from the onset 1 trial. Treatment effects were taken from the 26-week main phase of the onset 1 trial, with costs and utilities based on literature review. Future costs and clinical benefits were discounted at 3.5% annually. Results: Projections indicated that faster aspart was associated with improved discounted quality-adjusted life expectancy (by 0.13 quality-adjusted life years) versus insulin aspart). Improved clinical outcomes resulted from fewer diabetes-related complications and a delayed time to their onset with faster aspart. Faster aspart was found to be associated with reduced costs versus insulin aspart (cost savings of GBP 1,715), resulting from diabetes-related complications avoided and reduced treatment costs. Conclusions: Faster aspart was associated with improved clinical outcomes and cost savings versus insulin aspart for patients with T1DM in the UK setting