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We report on proton acceleration from intense CO2 laser-irradiated hydrogen plasmas at near-critical densities, with the density gradient steepened by Nd:YAG laser ablation-driven hydrodynamic shocks. While the experimental results, such as the quasi-monoenergetic proton spectra and their scaling with respect to the laser energy, are generally in agreement with the simulations, certain laser shots produced significantly higher proton energies than anticipated during the experiment. The increased proton energy may be linked to nonlinear propagation effects in the steepened plasma density ramp before the critical surface, including relativistic self-focusing and, for the case of temporally-structured laser pulses observed in the experiment, focusing of the trailing pulse through the plasma channel formed by the leading pulse 25 ps ahead. The occurrence of channel focusing in the underdense hydrogen plasma is supported by a subsequent pump-probe experiment with a dark-field imaging technique, where the formation of ion channels was observed after the passage of an intense CO2 laser pulse.

R code and eDNA input files to train a taxon-independent community index (TICI) for 53 riverine monitoring sites in New Zealand

We present the development and characterization of a high-stability, multi-material, multi-thickness tape-drive target for laser-driven acceleration at repetition rates of up to 100 Hz. The tape surface position was measured to be stable on the sub-micrometre scale, compatible with the high-numerical aperture focusing geometries required to achieve relativistic intensity interactions with the pulse energy available in current multi-Hz and near-future higher repetition-rate lasers ( $>$ kHz). Long-term drift was characterized at 100 Hz demonstrating suitability for operation over extended periods. The target was continuously operated at up to 5 Hz in a recent experiment for 70,000 shots without intervention by the experimental team, with the exception of tape replacement, producing the largest data-set of relativistically intense laser–solid foil measurements to date. This tape drive provides robust targetry for the generation and study of high-repetition-rate ion beams using next-generation high-power laser systems, also enabling wider applications of laser-driven proton sources.

Laser-driven ion sources are a rapidly developing technology producing high energy, high peak current beams. Their suitability for applications, such as compact medical accelerators, motivates development of robust acceleration schemes using widely available repetitive ultraintense femtosecond lasers. These applications not only require high beam energy, but also place demanding requirements on the source stability and controllability. This can be seriously affected by the laser temporal contrast, precluding the replication of ion acceleration performance on independent laser systems with otherwise similar parameters. Here, we present the experimental generation of >60 MeV protons and >30 MeV u−1 carbon ions from sub-micrometre thickness Formvar foils irradiated with laser intensities >1021 Wcm2. Ions are accelerated by an extreme localised space charge field ≳30 TVm−1, over a million times higher than used in conventional accelerators. The field is formed by a rapid expulsion of electrons from the target bulk due to relativistically induced transparency, in which relativistic corrections to the refractive index enables laser transmission through normally opaque plasma. We replicate the mechanism on two different laser facilities and show that the optimum target thickness decreases with improved laser contrast due to reduced pre-expansion. Our demonstration that energetic ions can be accelerated by this mechanism at different contrast levels relaxes laser requirements and indicates interaction parameters for realising application-specific beam delivery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between sex and positional demands in club-based field hockey players by analyzing vertical force-velocity characteristics. Thirty-three club-based field hockey athletes (16 males - age: 24.8 ± 7.3yrs, body mass: 76.8 ± 8.2kg, height: 1.79 ± 0.05m; 17 females - age: 22.3 ± 4.2yrs, body mass: 65.2 ± 7.6kg, height: 1.66 ± 0.05m) were classified into two key positional groups (attacker or defender) based on dominant field position during gameplay. Force-velocity (F-v) profiles were established by performing countermovement jumps (CMJ) using a three-point loading protocol ranging from body mass (i.e., zero external mass, 0%) to loads corresponding to 25% and 50% of their own body mass. Across all loads, between-trial reliability of F-v and CMJ variables was determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficient of variation (CV) and deemed to be acceptable (ICC: 0.87-0.95, CV% 2.8-8.2). Analysis by sex identified male athletes had significantly greater differences in all F-v variables (12.81-40.58%, p ≤ 0.001, ES = 1.10-3.19), a more enhanced F-v profile (i.e., greater theoretical maximal force, velocity, and power values), plus overall stronger correlations between relative maximal power (PMAX) and jump height (r = 0.67, p ≤ 0.06) when compared to female athletes (-0.71≤ r ≥ 0.60, p = 0.08). Male attackers demonstrated a more ‘velocity-oriented’ F-v profile compared to defenders due to significant mean differences in theoretical maximal velocity (v0) (6.64%, p ≤ 0.05, ES: 1.11), however differences in absolute and relative theoretical force (F0) (15.43%, p ≤ 0.01, ES = 1.39) led to female attackers displaying a more ‘force-oriented’ profile in comparison to defenders. The observed mechanical differences identify the underpinning characteristics of position specific expression of PMAX should be reflected in training programmes. Therefore, our findings suggest F-v profiling is acceptable to differentiate between sex and positional demands in club-based field hockey players. Furthermore, it is recommended field hockey players explore a range of loads and exercises across the F-v continuum through on-field and gym-based field hockey strength and conditioning practices to account for sex and positional mechanical differences.

Study question Can deep learning be used to detect and track spermatozoa and the different parts of an ICSI procedure? Summary answer Deep learning can be used as a tool to assist and organize the contents of an ICSI procedure. What is known already Sperm tracking has been a topic of research and practice for many years, especially in the context of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). Recent studies have proposed using deep learning algorithms to track spermatozoa for spermatozoon selection in human and animal samples. One critical part of performing ICSI involves the selection of the “best” spermatozoon for injection, but other parts of the procedure may also be of importance. However, as far as we know, tracking using deep learning has not been applied to the ICSI procedure, where detecting instruments and the oocyte could also be helpful in post-analysis and training. Study design, size, duration The study was performed using three anonymized videos of the ICSI procedure. The frames of the videos were manually annotated by data scientists and verified by an embryologist. The annotations were bounding boxes around specific parts of the ICSI procedure, including sperm, pipettes, and the oocyte. We trained a YOLOv5 model on the collected data, where two videos were used for training and one video for validation. Participants/materials, setting, methods The videos of the ICSI procedure were captured at 200x magnification with a DeltaPix camera at Fertilitetssenteret in Oslo, Norway. ICSI was performed using a Nikon ECLIPSE TE2000-S microscope connected with Eppendorf TransferMan 4m micromanipulators. The spermatozoa were immobilised in 5 µl Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; CooperSurgical). The videos had a resolution of 1920x1080 and were resized to 640x640 before being processed by the YOLOv5 model. The data will be made public in a later study. Main results and the role of chance Mean average precision (mAP) with the threshold of 0.5 (mAP@.5) is the main quantitative parameter measured in the YOLOv5 model. All the experiments were performed using three-fold cross-validation, where we present the average metrics calculated over the three folds. Overall, the method showed an average mAP@.5 of 0.50 across all predicted classes, which means that the method can track the different components with good accuracy. Looking closer at the individual classes, we see that instruments like the holding pipette and ICSI pipette are detected with high accuracy with a mAP@.5 of 0.87 and 0.94, respectively. The oocyte is also easily tracked with a mAP@.5 of 0.92. The first polar body is well detected with a mAP@.5 of 0.65. The model has issues detecting and tracking individual sperm (both outside and within the pipette), where the method achieved a mAP@.5 of 0.46 for tracking sperm outside the pipette and 0.03 for the sperm inside the pipette. The low score of detecting the sperm in the pipette can be explained by the often unclear visibility of the sperm through the pipette and the low number of training samples. Limitations, reasons for caution The limited sample size makes the generalizability of the method difficult to determine. A more extensive evaluation is necessary. Moreover, as the currency study focuses on tracking, patient information and clinical outcome were not included in the analysis. Wider implications of the findings Deep learning has the potential to aid embryologists to perform successful ICSI through tracking and detection of spermatozoa, pipettes, and the oocyte. This could potentially lead to better internal quality control and teaching possibilities, and hopefully better results. Trial registration number not applicable

There is increasing interest in the health of waterways in Aotearoa New Zealand. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) places a greater onus on resource managers to ...

BACKGROUND: Patient understanding of plan of care is associated with positive outcomes in ambulatory settings. In hospital medicine settings, patient-physician agreement on plan of care (concordance) has been limited and difficult to improve. This study examined the impact of adding a hospitalist to interdisciplinary rounds (IDR) on physician-patient-nurse concordance and the relationship between concordance and outcomes. METHODS: IDR were conducted by core teams made up of unit-based nurses, a case manager, and a pharmacist. Over time, with cohorting, hospitalists were included in IDR (hospitalist IDR) for some patients assigned to unit-based hospitalists. In developing hospitalist IDR, researchers emphasized using an IDR checklist, including a patient communication plan. Patient-nurse-physician interviews were used to assess concordance in the domains of diagnosis, tests and procedures, and expected discharge date. Using two-hospitalist review, agreement was rated as none, partial, or complete, and a total concordance score was calculated for each patient in both IDR groups. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the relationship between concordance, IDR type, patient factors, and utilization outcomes. RESULTS: For 658 patients, the mean concordance score was 11.71 out of a possible 18. There was no difference in concordance between hospitalist and core IDR groups (11.68 vs. 11.84, p = 0.7). Higher total concordance score was associated with lower lengths of stay (p < 0.001) and readmission rates (p = 0.001). Total concordance had a negative association with patient age (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Concordance did not change with IDR type. Higher concordance appears to be related to positive utilization outcomes. Future studies are needed to evaluate potential interventions to improve concordance.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most economically destructive diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), causing substantial yield and quality loss worldwide. Fusarium graminearum is the predominant causal pathogen of FHB in the U.S., and produces deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin that accumulates in the grain throughout infection. FHB results in kernel damage, a visual symptom that is quantified by a human observer enumerating or estimating the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) in a sample of grain. To date, FDK estimation is the most efficient and accurate method of predicting DON content without measuring presence in a laboratory. For this experiment, 1266 entries collectively representing elite varieties and SunGrains advanced breeding lines encompassing four inoculated FHB nurseries were represented in the analysis. All plots were subjected to a manual FDK count, both exact and estimated, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) analysis, DON laboratory analysis, and digital imaging seed phenotyping using the Vibe QM3 instrument developed by Vibe imaging analytics. Among the FDK analytical platforms used to establish percentage FDK within grain samples, Vibe QM3 showed the strongest prediction capabilities of DON content in experimental samples, R2 = 0.63, and higher yet when deployed as FDK GEBVs, R2 = 0.76. Additionally, Vibe QM3 was shown to detect a significant SNP association at locus S3B_9439629 within major FHB resistance quantitative trait locus (QTL) Fhb1. Visual estimates of FDK showed higher prediction capabilities of DON content in grain subsamples than previously expected when deployed as genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) (R2 = 0.71), and the highest accuracy in genomic prediction, followed by Vibe QM3 digital imaging, with average Pearson’s correlations of r = 0.594 and r = 0.588 between observed and predicted values, respectively. These results demonstrate that seed phenotyping using traditional or automated platforms to determine FDK boast various throughput and efficacy that must be weighed appropriately when determining application in breeding programs to screen for and develop resistance to FHB and DON accumulation in wheat germplasms. Published version

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carbon-based molecules that are ubiquitous in a variety of astrophysical objects and environments. In this work, we use JWST/MIRI MRS spectroscopy of three Seyferts to compare their nuclear PAH emission with that of star-forming regions. This study represents the first of its kind using sub-arcsecond angular resolution data of local luminous Seyferts (Lbol>10^44.46 erg/s) on a wide wavelength coverage (4.9-28.1 micron). We present an analysis of their nuclear PAH properties by comparing the observed ratios with PAH diagnostic model grids, derived from theoretical spectra. Our results show that a suite of PAH features is present in the innermost parts (~0.45 arcsec at 12 micron; in the inner ~142-245 pc) of luminous Seyfert galaxies. We find that the nuclear regions of AGN lie at different positions of the PAH diagnostic diagrams, whereas the SF regions are concentrated around the average values of SF galaxies. In particular, we find that the nuclear PAH emission mainly originates in neutral PAHs. In contrast, PAH emission originating in the SF regions favours ionised PAH grains. The observed PAH ratios in the nuclear region of AGN-dominated galaxy NGC 6552 indicate the presence of larger-sized PAH molecules compared with those of the SF regions. Therefore, our results provide evidence that the AGN have a significant impact on the ionization state (and probably the size) of the PAH grains on scales of ~142-245 pc., 12 pages, 10 figures. Small changes to match the accepted for publication version in A&A (official date of acceptance: 20/09/2022)

New Zealand has a complex recent history of climatic and tectonic change that has left variable signatures in the geographic distribution and genetic structure of the region’s flora and fauna. To identify concordant patterns, a broad range of taxa must be examined and compared. In New Zealand’s North Island, a consensus is forming as to the dominant biogeographic barriers in the region although obligate freshwater taxa have not been considered in this framework. We use single-nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate phylogeography in the widespread obligate freshwater fish Gobiomorphus basalis on the North Island. Phylogeographic patterns within G. basalis reveal biogeographic disjunctions that are in some ways consistent and in other ways at odds with established patterns, providing insight into the processes that have shaped the islands’ biogeography. We also use phylogeography to delineate species boundaries within the entire New Zealand radiation of Gobiomorphus and find that it contains several morphologically cryptic species. We resolve two clades within G. basalis that correspond to areas north and south of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. We confirm the distinctiveness of Gobiomorphus alpinus relative to Gobiomorphus cotidianus, as well as the presence of two lineages within Gobiomorphus breviceps that were previously identified based on mitochondrial data.

PurposeThis article describes the motivations for, and the process of, creating an executive education (EE) custom client engagement service template to foster closer, more effective working relationships between EE custom clients and service providers. The outcome of that endeavor is presented in the form of a robust, final, client engagement template along with a discussion of benefits gained from its use.Design/methodology/approachFrom a case study perspective, this paper chronicles the actual process one leading business school undertook in order to craft a robust EE custom client engagement process template. That task is linked to the key literature on EE, client service, reflective practice, and collaboration.FindingsThe EE custom client engagement process template presented was found to be robust and useful in working with custom EE clients.Practical implicationsThe EE custom client engagement process template presented is immediately and easily used by others interested in (1) a process for monitoring and improving existing custom EE client engagements, (2) guidance on building a world-class process for acquiring and serving custom EE clients, and/or (3) adapting it to other university-based service functions.Originality/valueThe specific, detailed, and comprehensive nature of the EE custom client engagement process template presented is a new addition to the literature pertaining to managing and serving custom EE client relationships.

Hicks, DS, Drummond, C, and Williams, KJ. Measurement agreement between Samozino's method and force plate force-velocity profiles during barbell and hexbar countermovement jumps. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-This study aimed to measure agreement between using Samozino's method and force plates to determine mean force, velocity, and power during unloaded and loaded barbell and hexbar countermovement jumps. Twenty-one subjects performed countermovement jumps against incremental loads using both loading conditions. Ground reaction force was recorded using a dual-force plate system (1,000 Hz) and used as the criterion method to compare with Samozino's method. Reliability and validity was determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), coefficient of variation (CV), limits of agreement plots, and least products regression analysis. Samozino's method provided acceptable levels of reliability for mean force, velocity, and power (ICC > 0.90, CV% < 5.5) across both loading conditions. Limits of agreement analysis showed the mean bias was 2.7, 15.4, and 7.2% during barbell countermovement jumps and 1.8, 12.4, and 5.0% during hexbar countermovement jumps for mean force, velocity, and power, respectively. Based on these findings, Samozino's method not only is reliable when measuring mean force, velocity, and power during loaded and unloaded barbell and hexbar countermovement jumps but also identifies limitations regarding concurrent validity compared with the gold standard. Across loading conditions, Samozino's method overestimated mean force (0.5-4.5%) and underestimated mean velocity (11.81-16.78%) and mean power (2.26-7.85%) compared with the force plates. Because of fixed and proportional bias between criterion and predictor, the results do not support the use of Samozino's method to measure mean force, velocity, and power. Therefore, it is not recommended for practitioners to use Samozino's method to estimate mechanical variables during loaded and unloaded countermovement jump actions using a barbell and hexbar.

Author(s): Hicks, Akiebia S.; Malone, Zachary; Moore, Megan A.; Powell, Roslynn; Thompson, Austin; Whitener, Patricia A.; Williams, Rowan | Abstract: In the realm of socioenvironmental justice, much discourse centers on equal access to green areas and on climate injustice in the United States. Marginalized communities, including Indigenous populations, are being excluded from current narratives surrounding the natural spaces that in many cases are historically tied to under-represented groups. This article aims to explore some of the many dimensions of environmental racism, green inequities, climate injustice, and access. The dimensions include but are not limited to racial gatekeeping, nature deprivation in low-income communities, green gentrification, light pollution, and access to clean water. The recommendations section serves as a guide during decisionmaking processes at the local, state, and federal level, as well as moving forward in offering impacted communities protection from environmental racism and socioenvironmental injustice to impacted communities.

Objectives The price of analogue insulin has increased dramatically, making it unaffordable for many patients and insurance carriers. By contrast, human synthetic insulins are available at a fraction of the cost. The objective of this study was to examine whether patients with financial constraints were more likely to use low-cost human insulins compared with higher-cost analogue insulins and to determine whether outcomes differ between users of each type of insulin. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Analysis of 4 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was performed. Adults with diabetes who reported use of insulin were included. The primary outcome was use of human insulin or analogue insulin. The dependent variable was self-reported financial constraints, a composite variable. Secondary analysis examined the association between use of human vs analogue insulin and patient outcomes. Results Of 22,263 eligible respondents, 698 (3.1%) reported use of insulin and the type of insulin used, representing 485,228 patients nationally. Patients with 1 or more financial risk factors were more likely to use human insulin compared with patients without any financial risk factors (88.5% vs 76.7%; P = .014). There was no association between use of human vs analogue insulin on diabetic or other patient outcomes among patients regardless of financial risk. Conclusions Patients with financial risk factors may be more likely to use low-cost human synthetic insulins compared with insulin analogues. Outcomes were similar, even when stratified by financial risk.

Processes responsible for population structuring across spatial and temporal scales represent key components in understanding speciation and evolution. We use a hierarchical approach to investigate the degree and mechanisms of structuring in landlocked and diadromous populations of the facultatively amphidromous fish Galaxias brevipinnis across various temporal and spatial scales in southern New Zealand. To determine long-term structuring, multiple lakes and coastal sites were compared genetically. Short-term structuring was assessed using otolith microchemistry for a subset of sites, and behavioural mechanisms driving population structuring were assessed via larval distributions. Genetic data show that lakes foster divergence of lake-developing populations from each other and from coastal stream populations, whereas there is relatively little structuring within coast or lake populations. However, otolith analyses indicate that on a shorter time scale, most larvae do not disperse, i.e. recruitment is local. Thus, lake and coastal populations show a distinct meta-population structure based on catchment, in contrast to the prevailing assumption of widespread dispersal, with implications for management. Most larvae were distributed in river plumes, suggesting that a simple larval behavioural mechanism, e.g. positive rheotaxis, may result in larval retention within catchments and lakes. However, not all larvae were retained in plumes, creating opportunities for genetic exchange within-lake or among coastal sites. Genetic divergence of lake populations as a consequence of landscape and behaviour provides an insight into the potential of G. brevipinnis to diversify and speciate, when landscape and circumstances align, and also has implications for the management of this and other facultatively amphidromous species.

We derive a distance of $D = 16.6 \pm 0.3$~Mpc ($\mu=31.10\pm0.04$~mag) to the archetypal narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 based on Cepheid Period--Luminosity relations and new Hubble Space Telescope multiband imaging. We identify 419 Cepheid candidates and estimate the distance at both optical and near-infrared wavelengths using subsamples of precisely-photometered variables (123 and 47 in the optical and near-infrared subsamples, respectively). We compare our independent photometric procedures and distance-estimation methods to those used by the SH0ES team and find agreement to 0.01~mag. The distance we obtain suggests an Eddington ratio $\dot{m} \approx 0.2$ for NGC 4051, typical of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, unlike the seemingly-odd value implied by previous distance estimates. We derive a peculiar velocity of $-490\pm34$~km~s$^{-1}$ for NGC 4051, consistent with the overall motion of the Ursa Major Cluster in which it resides. We also revisit the energetics of the NGC 4051 nucleus, including its outflow and mass accretion rates., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ

The relation between nuclear ($\lesssim$ 50 pc) star formation and nuclear galactic activity is still elusive: theoretical models predict a link between the two, but it is unclear whether active galactic nuclei (AGNs) should appear at the same time, before or after nuclear star formation activity is ongoing. We present a study of this relation in a complete, volume-limited sample of nine of the most luminous ($\log L_{\rm 14-195 keV} > 10^{42.5}$ erg/s) local AGNs (the LLAMA sample), including a sample of 18 inactive control galaxies (6 star-forming; 12 passive) that are matched by Hubble type, stellar mass (9.5 $\lesssim$ log M_star/M_sun $\lesssim$ 10.5), inclination and distance. This allows us to calibrate our methods on the control sample and perform a differential analysis between the AGN and control samples. We perform stellar population synthesis on VLT/X-SHOOTER spectra in an aperture corresponding to a physical radius of $\approx$ 150 pc. We find young ($\lesssim$ 30 Myr) stellar populations in seven out of nine AGNs and in four out of six star-forming control galaxies. In the non-star-forming control population, in contrast, only two out of twelve galaxies show such a population. We further show that these young populations are not indicative of ongoing star-formation, providing evidence for models that see AGN activity as a consequence of nuclear star formation. Based on the similar nuclear star-formation histories of AGNs and star-forming control galaxies, we speculate that the latter may turn into the former for some fraction of their time. Under this assumption, and making use of the volume-completeness of our sample, we infer that the AGN phase lasts for about 5 % of the nuclear starburst phase., 53 pages, 44 figures, accepted for publication by A&A

Philanthropic partners have always played a critical role in the management and maintenance of national parks in the U.S. Cultivating strong relationships with the communities of color, particularly African Americans, has been a major challenge for the National Park Service (NPS). As ethnic populations increase in share of the U.S. total population, the lack of diversity in NPS partnerships will be increasingly problematic for national parks funding and stewardship. Building philanthropic partnerships with African American audiences will be critical to the long-term sustainability of the NPS. While philanthropy is present and strong in the Black community, further research is needed to ascertain how the NPS can inspire and sustain philanthropic actions among Black donors in support of national parks. This paper presents an overview of the literature on Black philanthropy and the findings from focus group interviews to understand how African Americans perceive their philanthropy and the ways they connect their giving to national parks. The focus group interviews occurred between February and June 2018 in Raleigh, NC; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; and Washington, DC. Participants included mostly African American donors who were actively involved in community foundations, philanthropic associations, and giving circles. The study found that Black philanthropy is embedded in the community life; measured not only in money, but also in time and talent; and, driven by race and humanity. Participants also noted that a general lack of awareness as an important reason why they had not considered giving in support of national parks in the past. They suggested that making more visible the Black history of national parks would likely increase African American donors’ interests and stewardship. We suggest the NPS broaden its lens in forming strategies for connecting to Black donors (and audiences in general). Findings in this report present unique opportunities for the NPS to cultivate enduring and meaningful relationships with African American communities in support of national parks. Specifically, the NPS should leverage Black philanthropy to build partnerships, recognize the importance of social empowerment, expand cultural memory as part of the NPS visitor experience, and build on the concept of giving circles.Subscribe to JPRA

We report velocity-delay maps for prominent broad emission lines, Ly_alpha, CIV, HeII and H_beta, in the spectrum of NGC5548. The emission-line responses inhabit the interior of a virial envelope. The velocity-delay maps reveal stratified ionization structure. The HeII response inside 5-10 light-days has a broad single-peaked velocity profile. The Ly_alpha, CIV, and H_beta responses peak inside 10 light-days, extend outside 20 light-days, and exhibit a velocity profile with two peaks separated by 5000 km/s in the 10 to 20 light-day delay range. The velocity-delay maps show that the M-shaped lag vs velocity structure found in previous cross-correlation analysis is the signature of a Keplerian disk with a well-defined outer edge at R=20 light-days. The outer wings of the M arise from the virial envelope, and the U-shaped interior of the M is the lower half of an ellipse in the velocity-delay plane. The far-side response is weaker than that from the near side, so that we see clearly the lower half, but only faintly the upper half, of the velocity--delay ellipse. The delay tau=(R/c)(1-sin(i))=5 light-days at line center is from the near edge of the inclined ring, giving the inclination i=45 deg. A black hole mass of M=7x10^7 Msun is consistent with the velocity-delay structure. A barber-pole pattern with stripes moving from red to blue across the CIV and possibly Ly_alpha line profiles suggests the presence of azimuthal structure rotating around the far side of the broad-line region and may be the signature of precession or orbital motion of structures in the inner disk. Further HST observations of NGC 5548 over a multi-year timespan but with a cadence of perhaps 10 days rather than 1 day could help to clarify the nature of this new AGN phenomenon., 19 pages, 9 figures, ApJ in press

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a current pandemic. We initiated a program of systematic SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in all asymptomatic patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) at a large radiation oncology network in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan region and report adherence and results of the testing program. Methods Patients undergoing simulation for RT between May 18, 2020 and July 10, 2020 within the Levine Cancer Institute radiation oncology network who were asymptomatic for COVID-19 associated symptoms, without previous positive SARS-CoV-2 testing, and without recent high-risk contacts were included. PCR testing was performed on nasal cavity or nasopharyngeal swab samples. Testing was performed within 2 weeks of RT start (pre-RT) and at least every 4 weeks during RT for patients with prolonged RT courses (intra-RT). An automated task based process using the oncology electronic medical record (EMR) was developed specifically for this purpose. Results A total of 604 unique patients were included in the cohort. Details on testing workflow and implementation are described herein. Pre-RT PCR testing was performed in 573 (94.9%) patients, of which 4 (0.7%) were positive. The adherence rate to intra-RT testing overall was 91.6%. Four additional patients (0.7%) tested positive during their RT course, of whom 3 were tested due to symptom development and 1 was asymptomatic and identified via systematic testing. A total of 8 (1.3%) patients tested positive overall. There were no known cases of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from infected patients to clinic staff and/or other patients. Conclusions We detailed the workflows used to implement systematic SARS-CoV-2 for asymptomatic patients at a large radiation oncology network. Adherence rates for pre-RT and intra-RT testing were high using this process. This information allowed for appropriate delay in initiating RT, minimizing the occurrence of RT treatment interruptions, and no known cases of transmission from infected patients to clinic staff and/or other patients.

Nuclear medicine plays an increasingly important role in the management neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). Somatostatin analogue (SSA)-based positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) have been used in clinical trials and approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Focus 3 performed a multidisciplinary Delphi process to deliver a balanced perspective on molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy in well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). NETs form in cells that interact with the nervous system or in glands that produce hormones. These cells, called neuroendocrine cells, can be found throughout the body, but NETs are most often found in the abdomen, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. These tumours may also be found in the lungs, pancreas and adrenal glands. In addition to being rare, NETs are also complex and may be difficult to diagnose. Most NETs are non-functioning; however, a minority present with symptoms related to hypersecretion of bioactive compounds. NETs often do not cause symptoms early in the disease process. When diagnosed, substantial number of patients are already found to have metastatic disease. Several societies' guidelines address Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) management; however, many issues are still debated, due to both the difficulty in acquiring strong clinical evidence in a rare and heterogeneous disease and the different availability of diagnostic and therapeutic options across countries. EANM Focus 3 reached consensus on employing 68gallium-labelled somatostatin analogue ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA)-based PET/CT with diagnostic CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for unknown primary NET detection, metastatic NET, NET staging/restaging, suspected extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and suspected paraganglioma. Consensus was reached on employing 18fluorine-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) PET/CT in neuroendocrine carcinoma, G3 NET and in G1-2 NET with mismatched lesions (CT-positive/[68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA-negative). Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) was recommended for second line treatment for gastrointestinal NET with [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA uptake in all lesions, in G1/G2 NET at disease progression, and in a subset of G3 NET provided all lesions are positive at [18F]FDG and [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-SSA. PRRT rechallenge may be used for in patients with stable disease for at least 1 year after therapy completion. An international consensus is not only a prelude to a more standardised management across countries but also serves as a guide for the direction to follow when designing new research studies. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

We present the first results of the Galaxy Activity, Torus and Outflow Survey (GATOS), a project aimed at understanding the properties of the dusty molecular tori and their connection to the host galaxy in nearby Seyfert galaxies. Our project expands the range of AGN luminosities and Eddington ratios covered by previous surveys of Seyferts conducted by ALMA and allows us to study the gas feeding and feedback cycle in a combined sample of 19 Seyferts. We used ALMA to obtain new images of the emission of molecular gas and dust using the CO(3-2) and HCO+(4-3) lines as well as their underlying continuum emission at 870 microns with high spatial resolutions (0.1'' ~ 7 - 13 pc) in the CND of 10 nearby (D < 28 Mpc) Seyfert galaxies. Our new ALMA observations detect 870 micron continuum and CO line emission from spatially resolved disks located around the AGN in all the sources. The bulk of the continuum flux can be accounted for by thermal emission from dust in the majority of the targets. For most of the sources the disks show a preponderant orientation perpendicular to the AGN wind axes, as expected for dusty molecular tori. The median diameters and molecular gas masses of the tori are ~ 42 pc, and ~ 6 x 10**5 Msun, respectively. We find a positive correlation between the line-of-sight gas column densities responsible for the absorption of X-rays and the molecular gas column densities derived from CO towards the AGN in our sources. The radial distributions of molecular gas in the CND of our combined sample show signs of nuclear-scale molecular gas deficits. We also detect molecular outflows in the sources that show the most extreme nuclear-scale gas deficits in our sample. These observations find for the first time supporting evidence that the imprint of AGN feedback is more extreme in higher luminosity and/or higher Eddington ratio Seyfert galaxies., 41 pages, new version revised and accepted by A&A on the 22nd of June 2021

Background: Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections caused by the coronavirus. The underlying effect of cardiovascular comorbidities on patients with COVID-19, however, remains to be sufficiently understood. Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients from a state-wide large health care system with completed historical clinical conditions during March - June of 2020 were included in this study. The impact of CVD on the mortality, resources utility including the uses of intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilator, length of stay (LOS) and financial burden of COVID-19 inpatients were examined. Logistic analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between CVD and mortality, and non-parametric methods were used to evaluate the impact of CVD on resources utility. Random forest method was used to rank the importance of risk factors. Results: Among 811 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 228 (28.11%) were placed in ICU, 105 (12.95%) spent on ventilators, and there were 94 deaths (11.59%). The mean LOS was 11.93 ± 11.26 (SD, standard deviation), mean time a patient in an ICU was 2.41 ± 5.49 days, and mean ventilator time was 1.29 ± 4.62 days. The mean charge of a patient was $55242 ± 71742) with inter-quarter range of $44124. Age, gender, and race were the top 3 factors of mortality and utilities. Patients who present with heart failure vs. those who do not, have increased mortality (21.47% vs 8.97%; odds ratio [OR], 2.00 (95% CI: 1.25-3.21; P=0.004), longer LOS (12.97 ±10.09 vs. 11.61±11.46), p=0.18), higher ICU usage ( 3.32 ± 6.04 vs. 2.14 ±5.26, p=0.02) and ICU requiring ventilator (1.86 ± 4.90 vs. 1.15 ± 4.56, p=0.09), and significant higher charge ($ 66175 ± 68773 vs $ 50736 ±64142, mean difference $15439± 65193 with 95% CI: $4537-26340, p=0.01). Similar results were shown for patients with coronary artery disease or arrhythmia. Patients with hypertension vs those who do not, have increased mortality (14.81% vs. 4.92%; OR=3.22 (95% CI: 1.76-5.90, p=0.01), but the impact was not significant after adjusted by age, race and gender. Conclusions: Among COVID-19 hospitalized patients with established cardiovascular disease, there was a worse survival and adverse utility outcomes in hospital resources and financial charges.

We present geometric and dynamical modeling of the broad line region for the multi-wavelength reverberation mapping campaign focused on NGC 5548 in 2014. The dataset includes photometric and spectroscopic monitoring in the optical and ultraviolet, covering the H$\beta$, C IV, and Ly$\alpha$ broad emission lines. We find an extended disk-like H$\beta$ BLR with a mixture of near-circular and outflowing gas trajectories, while the C IV and Ly$\alpha$ BLRs are much less extended and resemble shell-like structures. There is clear radial structure in the BLR, with C IV and Ly$\alpha$ emission arising at smaller radii than the H$\beta$ emission. Using the three lines, we make three independent black hole mass measurements, all of which are consistent. Combining these results gives a joint inference of $\log_{10}(M_{\rm BH}/M_\odot) = 7.64^{+0.21}_{-0.18}$. We examine the effect of using the $V$ band instead of the UV continuum light curve on the results and find a size difference that is consistent with the measured UV-optical time lag, but the other structural and kinematic parameters remain unchanged, suggesting that the $V$ band is a suitable proxy for the ionizing continuum when exploring the BLR structure and kinematics. Finally, we compare the H$\beta$ results to similar models of data obtained in 2008 when the AGN was at a lower luminosity state. We find that the size of the emitting region increased during this time period, but the geometry and black hole mass remain unchanged, which confirms that the BLR kinematics suitably gauge the gravitational field of the central black hole., Comment: 26 pages, 19 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ

Author(s): Hicks, Akiebia S.; Mirza, Sanober; Rice, William L.; Richards, Jacob C.; Alarab, Mahmoud R. | Abstract: Park and protected area management has a rich history of discourse, in both scholarly and managerial realms, concerning the role and public perceptions of law enforcement. For as long as national parks have existed in the United States, they have been patrolled and protected by those in uniform. Although National Park Service law enforcement rangers primarily are concerned with protection of resources, their duties continue to evolve with changes in park use trends and societal and technological advances. This paper examines how the strong presence of law enforcement in national parks impacts the diverse visitor and provides recommendations for reform. Even while the National Park Service and its partners examine outreach initiatives to attract diverse visitors, law enforcement may serve as a constraint on doing so. As the world turns its attention to policing in the United States and recent uprisings in response to the George Floyd slaying, a rigid approach to national park law enforcement in the Hashtag Era will continue to serve as a hindrance to diversity in national parks⁠—unless considerable change is undertaken. [This is a paper from “Systemic Threats to Parks a Protected Areas,” the 2020 George Wright Society Student Summit.]