Transition probabilities in OH A 2 sigma + - X 2 pi i: Bands with v prime = 0 and 1, v double prime = 0 to 4

Experimental results for relative vibrational band transition probabilities for v prime = 0 and 1, and v double prime = 0 to 4 in the A-X electronic system of OH are presented. The measurements, part of a larger set involving v prime = 0 to 4 and v double prime = 0 to 6, were made using spectrally dispersed laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in the burnt gases of a flame. These Einstein coefficients will be useful in dynamics experiments for quantitative LIF determinations of OH radical concentrations in high v double prime

Preventive measures in infancy to reduce under-five mortality: a case-control study in The Gambia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between child mortality and common preventive interventions: vaccination, trained birthing attendants, tetanus toxoid during pregnancy, breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation. METHODS: Case-control study in a population under demographic surveillance. Cases (n = 141) were children under five who died. Each was age and sex-matched to five controls (n = 705). Information was gathered by interviewing primary caregivers. RESULTS: All but one of the interventions - whether the mother had received tetanus toxoid during pregnancy - were protective against child mortality after multivariate analysis. Having a trained person assisting at child birth (OR 0.2 95% CI 0.1-0.4), receiving all vaccinations by 9 months of age (OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.01-0.3), being breastfed for more than 12 months (Children breastfed between 13 and 24 months OR 0.1 95% CI 0.03-0.3, more than 25 months OR 0.1 95% CI 0.01-0.5) and receiving vitamin A supplementation at or after 6 months of age (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01-0.2) were protective against child death. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the value of at least four available interventions in the prevention of under-five death in The Gambia. It is now important to identify those who are not receiving them and why, and to intervene to improve coverage across the population

Sublethal salinity stress contributes to habitat limitation in an endangered estuarine fish.

As global change alters multiple environmental conditions, predicting species' responses can be challenging without understanding how each environmental factor influences organismal performance. Approaches quantifying mechanistic relationships can greatly complement correlative field data, strengthening our abilities to forecast global change impacts. Substantial salinity increases are projected in the San Francisco Estuary, California, due to anthropogenic water diversion and climatic changes, where the critically endangered delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) largely occurs in a low-salinity zone (LSZ), despite their ability to tolerate a much broader salinity range. In this study, we combined molecular and organismal measures to quantify the physiological mechanisms and sublethal responses involved in coping with salinity changes. Delta smelt utilize a suite of conserved molecular mechanisms to rapidly adjust their osmoregulatory physiology in response to salinity changes in estuarine environments. However, these responses can be energetically expensive, and delta smelt body condition was reduced at high salinities. Thus, acclimating to salinities outside the LSZ could impose energetic costs that constrain delta smelt's ability to exploit these habitats. By integrating data across biological levels, we provide key insight into the mechanistic relationships contributing to phenotypic plasticity and distribution limitations and advance the understanding of the molecular osmoregulatory responses in nonmodel estuarine fishes

The evolution of binary populations in cool, clumpy star clusters

Observations and theory suggest that star clusters can form in a subvirial (cool) state and are highly substructured. Such initial conditions have been proposed to explain the level of mass segregation in clusters through dynamics, and have also been successful in explaining the origin of trapezium-like systems. In this paper we investigate, using N-body simulations, whether such a dynamical scenario is consistent with the observed binary properties in the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). We find that several different primordial binary populations are consistent with the overall fraction and separation distribution of visual binaries in the ONC (in the range 67 - 670 au), and that these binary systems are heavily processed. The substructured, cool-collapse scenario requires a primordial binary fraction approaching 100 per cent. We find that the most important factor in processing the primordial binaries is the initial level of substructure; a highly substructured cluster processes up to 20 per cent more systems than a less substructured cluster because of localised pockets of high stellar density in the substructure. Binaries are processed in the substructure before the cluster reaches its densest phase, suggesting that even clusters remaining in virial equilibrium or undergoing supervirial expansion would dynamically alter their primordial binary population. Therefore even some expanding associations may not preserve their primordial binary population.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in MNRA

Do binaries in clusters form in the same way as in the field?

We examine the dynamical destruction of binary systems in star clusters of different densities. We find that at high densities (10^4 - 10^5 Msun pc^-3) almost all binaries with separations > 10^3 AU are destroyed after a few crossing times. At low densities (order(10^2) Msun pc^-3) many binaries with separations > 10^3 AU are destroyed, and no binaries with separations > 10^4 AU survive after a few crossing times. Therefore the binary separations in clusters can be used as a tracer of the dynamical age and past density of a cluster. We argue that the central region of the Orion Nebula Cluster was around 100 times denser in the past with a half-mass radius of only 0.1 - 0.2 pc as (a) it is expanding, (b) it has very few binaries with separations > 10^3 AU, and (c) it is well-mixed and therefore dynamically old. We also examine the origin of the field binary population. Binaries with separations < 10^2 AU are not significantly modified in any cluster, therefore at these separations the field reflects the sum of all star formation. Binaries with separations in the range 10^2 - 10^4 AU are progressively more and more heavily affected by dynamical disruption in increasingly dense clusters. If most star formation is clustered, these binaries must be over-produced relative to the field. Finally, no binary with a separation > 10^4 AU can survive in any cluster and so must be produced by isolated star formation, but only if all isolated star formation produces extremely wide binaries.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Characteristics and drivers of high-altitude ladybird flight: insights from vertical-looking entomological radar

Understanding the characteristics and drivers of dispersal is crucial for predicting population dynamics, particularly in range-shifting species. Studying long-distance dispersal in insects is challenging, but recent advances in entomological radar offer unique insights. We analysed 10 years of radar data collected at Rothamsted Research, U.K., to investigate characteristics (altitude, speed, seasonal and annual trends) and drivers (aphid abundance, air temperature, wind speed and rainfall) of high-altitude flight of the two most abundant U.K. ladybird species (native Coccinella septempunctata and invasive Harmonia axyridis). These species cannot be distinguished in the radar data since their reflectivity signals overlap, and they were therefore analysed together. However, their signals do not overlap with other, abundant insects so we are confident they constitute the overwhelming majority of the analysed data. The target species were detected up to ~1100 m above ground level, where displacement speeds of up to ~60 km/h were recorded, however most ladybirds were found between ~150 and 500 m, and had a mean displacement of 30 km/h. Average flight time was estimated, using tethered flight experiments, to be 36.5 minutes, but flights of up to two hours were observed. Ladybirds are therefore potentially able to travel 18 km in a "typical" high-altitude flight, but up to 120 km if flying at higher altitudes, indicating a high capacity for long-distance dispersal. There were strong seasonal trends in ladybird abundance, with peaks corresponding to the highest temperatures of mid-summer, and warm air temperature was the key driver of ladybird flight. Climatic warming may therefore increase the potential for long-distance dispersal in these species. Low aphid abundance was a second significant factor, highlighting the important role of aphid population dynamics in ladybird dispersal. This research illustrates the utility of radar for studying high-altitude insect flight and has important implications for predicting long-distance dispersal. © 2013 Jeffries et al

The Role and Function of a Hospital Chaplain in an Interdisciplinary Team

Healthcare workers provide quality of care to patients who enter the hospital. However, to provide the holistic care, patients need interdisciplinary teams who meet and collaborate on a plan of care. There are various skills sets required on an interdisciplinary team including chaplains. However, members of an interdisciplinary team do not necessarily understand how to utilize the chaplain’s multifaceted training for the best holistic care of the patient. The purpose of this study is to review the interdisciplinary team in the hospital context and address the understanding of the chaplain’s role and function. The study will utilize a qualitative research method within the hospital context using interdisciplinary teams as the sample population and a sample size of 12 healthcare workers. The setting will be within the context of the hospital using questionnaires, one-on-one interviews, and observations as data collection methods. This study should help educate healthcare workers on interdisciplinary teams regarding the role and function of the hospital chaplain within the hospital. It should also draw attention to how members of those on the interdisciplinary teams are trained not only together, but also in their initial medical training, whether it be nursing, caseworker, pharmacist, or physician. If there is an expectation and consideration for members on the interdisciplinary team to work together then part of their education should be on not only team development, but the different roles and functions of those they will come in contact with during their career in order to provide quality care for patients