Search

In this paper, we report on the observational performance of the Swift Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) in response to the Gravitational Wave alerts announced by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory and the Advanced Virgo detector during the O3 period. We provide the observational strategy for follow-up of GW alerts and provide an overview of the processing and analysis of candidate optical/UV sources. For the O3 period, we also provide a statistical overview and report on serendipitous sources discovered by Swift/UVOT. Swift followed 18 gravitational-wave candidate alerts, with UVOT observing a total of 424 deg^2. We found 27 sources that changed in magnitude at the 3 sigma level compared with archival u or g-band catalogued values. Swift/UVOT also followed up a further 13 sources reported by other facilities during the O3 period. Using catalogue information, we divided these 40 sources into five initial classifications: 11 candidate active galactic nuclei (AGN)/quasars, 3 Cataclysmic Variables (CVs), 9 supernovae, 11 unidentified sources that had archival photometry and 6 uncatalogued sources for which no archival photometry was available. We have no strong evidence to identify any of these transients as counterparts to the GW events. The 17 unclassified sources are likely a mix of AGN and a class of fast-evolving transient, and one source may be a CV., 25 pages, 6 figures and 5 tables. Submitted to MNRAS. Supplementary contains 23 pages with 8 figures and 1 table

Dipyridamole was compared with exercise as a method of enhancing myocardial perfusion defects on thallium-201 scintiscans. Twenty patients with angina had scans after treadmill exercise to near the limit of effort tolerance, and again 4 h later in the redistribution phase. On a separate occasion the same patients had scans after intravenous dipyridamole 0.6 mg/kg. Fifteen of them were also investigated by coronary angiography. Exercise and drug-induced coronary dilatation caused segmental abnormalities of similar degree but the anatomical areas showing these perfusion defects correlated less well. Neither technique offered any clear advantage over the other in predicting the site of coronary stenosis, or in the quality of images obtained. Unwanted drug effects after intravenous dipyridamole were minor but included chest pain in four patients. Intravenous dipyridamole can reasonably be used instead of exercise for thallium-201 scintiscans. The technique will be of particular value when exercise testing is impracticable.

There is an urgent need for internaltion standards for the recognition, training and licensure of midwives. It is important for obstetricians to use their influence constructively to help meet the need.Although the term midwife is universal, the status, training, experience and legal responsibility vary greatly. The current consideration of Draft Directives on Midwives in the European Economic Community which has drawn attention to this problem for the 9 countries of the Community will require an early solution. In England and Wales, a midwife is the senior person present at 76% of deliveries. She is trained and qualified to provide comprehensive care and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postnatal period, to conduct normal deliveries independently, and to care for the newborn infant. The care the midwife provides is reviewed. In order to protect the public against practice by unqualified individuals, the Central Midwives Board in Britain has statutory power to regulate and control the practice of midwives and to determine their training and to conduct examinations. Negotiations are going on to arrive at a generally accepted definition of the sphere of midwives. It is crucial that there be some internationally recognized standard before there can be a satisfactory system of mutual recognition of professional midwifery qualifications. More important is the establishment of internationally accepted standards of training. Outside the European Community the need for standardization of midwifery training and practice is even greater. Due to the national differences in existing systems, there is a need for a universal system of licensure of midwives that is comparable with that for physicians. Ideally, this system should provide for an international code of practice within agreed limits, internationally accepted standards of training, and international recognition of rights to practice.