1,743 research outputs found
The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope: Instrument and Data Characteristics
The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) was flown as part of the Astro
observatory on the Space Shuttle Columbia in December 1990 and again on the
Space Shuttle Endeavor in March 1995. Ultraviolet (1200-3300 Angstroms) images
of a variety of astronomical objects, with a 40 arcmin field of view and a
resolution of about 3 arcsec, were recorded on photographic film. The data
recorded during the first flight are available to the astronomical community
through the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC); the data recorded
during the second flight will soon be available as well. This paper discusses
in detail the design, operation, data reduction, and calibration of UIT,
providing the user of the data with information for understanding and using the
data. It also provides guidelines for analyzing other astronomical imagery made
with image intensifiers and photographic film.Comment: 44 pages, LaTeX, AAS preprint style and EPSF macros, accepted by PAS
Patient and family involvement in adult critical and intensive care settings : a scoping review
BACKGROUND: Despite international bodies calling for increased patient and family involvement, these concepts remain poorly defined within literature on critical and intensive care settings. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review investigates the extent and range of literature on patient and family involvement in critical and intensive care settings. Methodological and empirical gaps are identified, and a future agenda for research into optimizing patient and family involvement is outlined. METHODS: Searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Work Abstracts and PsycINFO were conducted. English‐language articles published between 2003 and 2014 were retrieved. Articles were included if the studies were undertaken in an intensive care or critical care setting, addressed the topic of patient and family involvement, included a sample of adult critical care patients, their families and/or critical care providers. Two reviewers extracted and charted data and analysed findings using qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: A total of 892 articles were screened, 124 were eligible for analysis, including 61 quantitative, 61 qualitative and 2 mixed‐methods studies. There was a significant gap in research on patient involvement in the intensive care unit. The analysis identified five different components of family and patient involvement: (i) presence, (ii) having needs met/being supported, (iii) communication, (iv) decision making and (v) contributing to care. CONCLUSION: Three research gaps were identified that require addressing: (i) the scope, extent and nature of patient involvement in intensive care settings; (ii) the broader socio‐cultural processes that shape patient and family involvement; and (iii) the bidirectional implications between patient/family involvement and interprofessional teamwork
Inhomogeneous Broadening and the Kosterlitz-Thouless Transition
Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://journals.aps.org/Torsional-oscillator studies of very thin He-4 films have found nonuniversal behavior of the superfluid response as a function of coverage. The temperature width of the superfluid transition region is nonmonotonic in the areal density n and exhibits cusplike variations at half of the layering period. We explore the assumption that this additional broadening is caused by macroscopic inhomogeneities in the substrate potential; such a theory for inhomogeneous broadening can be constructed from the Kosterlitz-Nelson relation between the superfluid areal density n(s) and the transition temperature T(c) by determining the theoretical ''sensitivity'' S of n(s) to variations in the strength of the substrate potential. For substrate models that are atomically uniform, a simple microscopic hypernetted-chain calculation (without either ''elementary diagrams'' or three-body correlations, but with an optimized Jastrow function) finds this sensitivity always to be of the same sign, and yields reasonable order-of-magnitude agreement with experiment. However, models for which the sensitivity does not change sign appear to be incapable of yielding either the cusps or the half-periodicity of the data. We suggest that these properties may occur with a more recently developed (and more sophisticated) version of hypernetted-chain theory, wherein ''elementary diagrams'' and three-body correlations are incorporated
Risk factors for exacerbations and pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pooled analysis.
BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk of exacerbations and pneumonia; how the risk factors interact is unclear. METHODS: This post-hoc, pooled analysis included studies of COPD patients treated with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) combinations and comparator arms of ICS, LABA, and/or placebo. Backward elimination via Cox's proportional hazards regression modelling evaluated which combination of risk factors best predicts time to first (a) pneumonia, and (b) moderate/severe COPD exacerbation. RESULTS: Five studies contributed: NCT01009463, NCT01017952, NCT00144911, NCT00115492, and NCT00268216. Low body mass index (BMI), exacerbation history, worsening lung function (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] stage), and ICS treatment were identified as factors increasing pneumonia risk. BMI was the only pneumonia risk factor influenced by ICS treatment, with ICS further increasing risk for those with BMI <25 kg/m2. The modelled probability of pneumonia varied between 3 and 12% during the first year. Higher exacerbation risk was associated with a history of exacerbations, poorer lung function (GOLD stage), female sex and absence of ICS treatment. The influence of the other exacerbation risk factors was not modified by ICS treatment. Modelled probabilities of an exacerbation varied between 31 and 82% during the first year. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of an exacerbation was considerably higher than for pneumonia. ICS reduced exacerbations but did not influence the effect of risks associated with prior exacerbation history, GOLD stage, or female sex. The only identified risk factor for ICS-induced pneumonia was BMI <25 kg/m2. Analyses of this type may help the development of COPD risk equations
The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) family
The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) enzymes are secreted, multi-domain matrix-associated zinc metalloendopeptidases that have diverse roles in tissue morphogenesis and patho-physiological remodeling, in inflammation and in vascular biology. The human family includes 19 members that can be sub-grouped on the basis of their known substrates, namely the aggrecanases or proteoglycanases (ADAMTS1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15 and 20), the procollagen N-propeptidases (ADAMTS2, 3 and 14), the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein-cleaving enzymes (ADAMTS7 and 12), the von-Willebrand Factor proteinase (ADAMTS13) and a group of orphan enzymes (ADAMTS6, 10, 16, 17, 18 and 19). Control of the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a central theme of the biology of the ADAMTS, as exemplified by the actions of the procollagen-N-propeptidases in collagen fibril assembly and of the aggrecanases in the cleavage or modification of ECM proteoglycans. Defects in certain family members give rise to inherited genetic disorders, while the aberrant expression or function of others is associated with arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In particular, ADAMTS4 and 5 have emerged as therapeutic targets in arthritis. Multiple ADAMTSs from different sub-groupings exert either positive or negative effects on tumorigenesis and metastasis, with both metalloproteinase-dependent and -independent actions known to occur. The basic ADAMTS structure comprises a metalloproteinase catalytic domain and a carboxy-terminal ancillary domain, the latter determining substrate specificity and the localization of the protease and its interaction partners; ancillary domains probably also have independent biological functions. Focusing primarily on the aggrecanases and proteoglycanases, this review provides a perspective on the evolution of the ADAMTS family, their links with developmental and disease mechanisms, and key questions for the future
Google Earth Mapping of Damage from the Niigata-Ken-Chuetsu M6.6 Earthquake of 16 July 2007
We describe the use of Google Earth during and after a large damaging earthquake that struck the central Japan coast on 16 July 2007 to collect and organize damage information and guide the reconnaissance activities. This software enabled greater real-time collaboration among scientists and engineers. After the field investigation, the Google Earth map is used as a final reporting product that was directly linked to the more traditional research report document. Finally, we analyze the use of the software within the context of a post-disaster reconnaissance investigation, and link it to student use of Google Earth in field situations
Observation of associated near-side and away-side long-range correlations in √sNN=5.02 TeV proton-lead collisions with the ATLAS detector
Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and pseudorapidity (Δη) are measured in √sNN=5.02 TeV p+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1 μb-1 of data as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and the transverse energy (ΣETPb) summed over 3.1<η<4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2<|Δη|<5) “near-side” (Δϕ∼0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing ΣETPb. A long-range “away-side” (Δϕ∼π) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small ΣETPb, is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Δη and Δϕ) and ΣETPb dependence. The resultant Δϕ correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos2Δϕ modulation for all ΣETPb ranges and particle pT
A review of source tracking techniques for fine sediment within a catchment
Excessive transport of fine sediment, and its associated pollutants, can cause detrimental impacts in aquatic environments. It is therefore important to perform accurate sediment source apportionment to identify hot spots of soil erosion. Various tracers have been adopted, often in combination, to identify sediment source type and its spatial origin; these include fallout radionuclides, geochemical tracers, mineral magnetic properties and bulk and compound-specific stable isotopes. In this review, the applicability of these techniques to particular settings and their advantages and limitations are reviewed. By synthesizing existing approaches, that make use of multiple tracers in combination with measured changes of channel geomorphological attributes, an integrated analysis of tracer profiles in deposited sediments in lakes and reservoirs can be made. Through a multi-scale approach for fine sediment tracking, temporal changes in soil erosion and sediment load can be reconstructed and the consequences of changing catchment practices evaluated. We recommend that long-term, as well as short-term, monitoring of riverine fine sediment and corresponding surface and subsurface sources at nested sites within a catchment are essential. Such monitoring will inform the development and validation of models for predicting dynamics of fine sediment transport as a function of hydro-climatic and geomorphological controls. We highlight that the need for monitoring is particularly important for hilly catchments with complex and changing land use. We recommend that research should be prioritized for sloping farmland-dominated catchments
Fataluku medicinal ethnobotany and the East Timorese military resistance
BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and poisonous plants used by the East Timor resistance was undertaken in the Lautem District of East Timor to study medicinal plant use in the region. Interviews were conducted with a single key consultant from the resistance army who belonged to the Fataluku culture. This study is of importance as a historical document and because no previous medicinal ethnobotanical studies on this region exist. METHODS: A rapid ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and poisonous plants was conducted through the proposed Conis Santana National Park in the Lautem district of East Timor. Medicinal and poisonous plants were identified by a Consultant and data was collected by the authors using classical descriptive ethnobotanical techniques (i.e. no quantitative measures) through an unstructured open ended interview. RESULTS: During the survey 40 medicinal and poisonous plants were identified by the Consultant and collected by the authors. Defining characteristics of the Consultant's knowledge include a high frequency use of trees, heavily forested habitats, leaves, decoctions and drinks for a range of conditions relevant to a resistance army. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations of the study, important contributions of this study include preservation of a part of the cultural history of the resistance movement and traditional botanical knowledge of the Fataluku. Furthermore, initial findings may indicate that traditional botanical knowledge is unique amongst different East Timorese cultures in terms of plant selection
Jet Shapes and Jet Algorithms in SCET
Jet shapes are weighted sums over the four-momenta of the constituents of a
jet and reveal details of its internal structure, potentially allowing
discrimination of its partonic origin. In this work we make predictions for
quark and gluon jet shape distributions in N-jet final states in e+e-
collisions, defined with a cone or recombination algorithm, where we measure
some jet shape observable on a subset of these jets. Using the framework of
Soft-Collinear Effective Theory, we prove a factorization theorem for jet shape
distributions and demonstrate the consistent renormalization-group running of
the functions in the factorization theorem for any number of measured and
unmeasured jets, any number of quark and gluon jets, and any angular size R of
the jets, as long as R is much smaller than the angular separation between
jets. We calculate the jet and soft functions for angularity jet shapes \tau_a
to one-loop order (O(alpha_s)) and resum a subset of the large logarithms of
\tau_a needed for next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy for both cone and
kT-type jets. We compare our predictions for the resummed \tau_a distribution
of a quark or a gluon jet produced in a 3-jet final state in e+e- annihilation
to the output of a Monte Carlo event generator and find that the dependence on
a and R is very similar.Comment: 62 pages plus 21 pages of Appendices, 13 figures, uses JHEP3.cls. v2:
corrections to finite parts of NLO jet functions, minor changes to plots,
clarified discussion of power corrections. v3: Journal version. Introductory
sections significantly reorganized for clarity, classification of logarithmic
accuracy clarified, results for non-Mercedes-Benz configurations adde
- …
