We report the detection of very high energy -ray emission from the intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object W Comae by VERITAS. The source was observed between 2008 January and April. A ...strong outburst of -ray emission was measured in the middle of March, lasting for only 4 days. The energy spectrum measured during the two highest flare nights is fit by a power law and is found to be very steep, with a differential photon spectral index of image. The integral photon flux above image during those two nights corresponds to roughly image of the flux from the Crab Nebula. Quasi-simultaneous Swift observations at X-ray energies were triggered by the VERITAS observations. The spectral energy distribution of the flare data can be described by synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) or external Compton (EC) leptonic jet models.
Like other cultures, measures to accurately and sensitively assess and treat disruptive behaviors in Taiwanese children are necessary. This research provides normative and psychometric data (i.e., ...item-total correlations, split-half coefficients, internal consistency, and internal validity) on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), including clinical cut-off scores, with a Taiwanese community sample. The results suggest that the ECBI may be helpful in screening for disruptive behaviors in Taiwanese children, which may allow for appropriate prevention and intervention efforts. Although results are comparable to other research, cultural differences do exist, thereby highlighting the importance of cultural considerations in assessing child behavior, irrespective of country of treatment.
Galaxy Zoo Supernovae Smith, A. M.; Lynn, S.; Sullivan, M. ...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
April 2011, Letnik:
412, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper presents the first results from a new citizen science project: Galaxy Zoo Supernovae. This proof-of-concept project uses members of the public to identify supernova candidates from the ...latest generation of wide-field imaging transient surveys. We describe the Galaxy Zoo Supernovae operations and scoring model, and demonstrate the effectiveness of this novel method using imaging data and transients from the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). We examine the results collected over the period 2010 April-July, during which nearly 14 000 supernova candidates from the PTF were classified by more than 2500 individuals within a few hours of data collection. We compare the transients selected by the citizen scientists to those identified by experienced PTF scanners and find the agreement to be remarkable - Galaxy Zoo Supernovae performs comparably to the PTF scanners and identified as transients 93 per cent of the ∼130 spectroscopically confirmed supernovae (SNe) that the PTF located during the trial period (with no false positive identifications). Further analysis shows that only a small fraction of the lowest signal-to-noise ratio detections (r > 19.5) are given low scores: Galaxy Zoo Supernovae correctly identifies all SNe with ≥8σ detections in the PTF imaging data. The Galaxy Zoo Supernovae project has direct applicability to future transient searches, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, by both rapidly identifying candidate transient events and via the training and improvement of existing machine classifier algorithms.
Multiwavelength observations of the high-frequency-peaked blazar 1ES 2344+514 were performed from 2007 October to 2008 January. The campaign represents the first contemporaneous data on the object at ...very high energy (VHE, E >100 GeV) Delta *g-ray, X-ray, and UV energies. Observations with VERITAS in VHE Delta *g-rays yield a strong detection of 20 Delta *s with 633 excess events in a total exposure of 18.1 hr live time. A strong VHE Delta *g-ray flare on 2007 December 7 is measured at F(>300 GeV) = (6.76 ? 0.62) X 10--11 photons cm--2 s--1, corresponding to 48% of the Crab Nebula flux. Excluding this flaring episode, nightly variability at lower fluxes is observed with a time-averaged mean of F(>300 GeV) = (1.06 ? 0.09) X 10--11 photons cm--2 s--1 (7.6% of the Crab Nebula flux). The differential photon spectrum between 390 GeV and 8.3 TeV for the time-averaged observations excluding 2007 December 7 is well described by a power law with a photon index of Delta *G = 2.78 ? 0.09stat ? 0.15syst. On the flaring night of 2007 December 7 the measured VHE Delta *g-ray photon index was Delta *G = 2.43 ? 0.22stat ? 0.15syst. Over the full period of VERITAS observations contemporaneous X-ray and UV data were taken with Swift and RXTE. The measured 2-10 keV flux ranged by a factor of ~7 during the campaign. On 2007 December 8 the highest ever observed X-ray flux from 1ES 2344+514 was measured by Swift X-ray Telescope at a flux of F(2-10 keV) = (6.28 ? 0.31) X 10--11 erg cm--2 s--1. Evidence for a correlation between the X-ray flux and VHE Delta *g-ray flux on nightly timescales is indicated with a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = 0.60 ? 0.11. Contemporaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 1ES 2344+514 are presented for two distinct flux states. A one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model describes both SEDs using parameters consistent with previous SSC modeling of 1ES 2344+514 from non-contemporaneous observations.
Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been extensively studied in victim populations (e.g., survivors of sexual assault), but not nearly as thoroughly in the responders who come to ...the aid of those victims, particularly firefighters. The prevalence rates for PTSD (as defined by previous authors) in firefighters vary widely, from 6.5% to 37%, using various cutoff scores on a variety of measures (primarily self-report) with rather dissimilar samples and events. This study utilized the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), a measure consistent with current DSM-IV criteria, to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in 131 firefighters from two US states. Using a standard cutoff score on the PCL, a prevalence rate of 8% was found. When measures of fear, helplessness, or horror (DSM-IV Criterion A2) and functional impairment (Criterion F) were included, a lower prevalence rate of 5% was obtained, a rate lower than typically is found in previously published reports. Previous psychological treatment, age at which the firefighters started working, Miscellaneous Calls, and the response of horror following the firefighter's Single Worst Event predicted PTSD symptoms. The present findings highlight the importance of using a symptom measure consistent with the full DSM-IV criteria to more fully assess firefighters' responses of fear, helplessness, and horror.
Characterizing chemical changes within individual cells is important for determining fundamental mechanisms of biological processes that will lead to new biological insights and improved disease ...understanding. Analyzing biological systems with imaging and profiling mass spectrometry (MS) has gained popularity in recent years as a method for creating chemical maps of biological samples. To obtain mass spectra that provide relevant molecular information about individual cells, samples must be prepared so that salts and other cell culture components are removed from the cell surface and that the cell contents are rendered accessible to the desorption beam. We have designed a cellular preparation protocol for imaging/profiling MS that removes the majority of the interfering species derived from the cellular growth medium, preserves the basic morphology of the cells, and allows chemical profiling of the diffusible elements of the cytosol. Using this method, we are able to reproducibly analyze cells from three diverse cell types: MCF7 human breast cancer cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, and NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. This preparation technique makes possible routine imaging/profiling MS analysis of individual cultured cells, allowing for understanding of molecular processes within individual cells.
Homicide is a leading cause of death among children in the US.
To examine trends in child homicide rates and characteristics most commonly associated with these deaths.
In this cross-sectional study, ...the study team used National Vital Statistics System WONDER mortality data for 38 362 homicide victims aged 0 to 17 years for 1999 to 2020 and National Violent Death Reporting System data for child homicide victims for 2003 to 2019 in 45 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. WONDER data are based on death certificates for US residents. National Violent Death Reporting System data include characteristics of violent deaths, linking information from death certificates, and law enforcement, coroner, and medical examiner reports.
Child homicide was defined using underlying cause-of-death codes U01 to U02, X85 to Y09, and Y87.1 from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification.
Trends in homicide rates per 100 000 children were tested using joinpoint regression analysis; differences in rates from 2019 to 2020 were evaluated using z tests. Circumstances of child homicides were described.
This study included 38 362 homicide victims (69.4% male). The overall child homicide rate (per 100 000 children) has increased annually, on average 4.3% since 2013, with a precipitous rise from 2019 to 2020 (2019 rate, 2.2; 2020 rate, 2.8; overall increase of 27.7%). Homicide rates recently increased significantly for boys (2018 rate, 2.9; 2020 rate, 4.1; overall increase of 16.1%), 6- to 10-year-olds (2014 rate, 0.5; 2020 rate, 0.8; overall increase of 5.6%), 11- to 15-year-olds (2018 rate, 1.3; 2020 rate, 2.2; overall increase of 26.9%), 16- to 17-year-olds (2018 rate, 6.6; 2020 rate, 10.0; overall increase of 19.0%), Black children (2012 rate, 5.9; 2018 rate, 6.8; 2020 rate, 9.9; overall increase of 16.6% from 2018 to 2020), Hispanic children (2014 rate, 1.6; 2020 rate, 2.2; overall increase of 4.7%), children in the South (2013 rate, 2.1; 2020 rate, 3.5; overall increase of 6.4%), and in rural (2011 rate, 1.8; 2020 rate, 2.4; overall increase of 3.2%) and urban areas (2013 rate, 1.9; 2020 rate, 2.9; overall increase of 4.4%). Since 1999, homicide rates have decreased for girls (1999 rate, 1.9; 2020 rate, 1.5; overall decrease of 1.4%), infants (1999 rate, 8.7; 2020 rate, 6.6; overall decrease of 1.3%), 1- to 5-year-olds (1999 rate, 2.1; 2020 rate, 1.8; overall decrease of 1.0%), Asian or Pacific Islander children (1999 rate, 2.0; 2020 rate, 0.5; overall decrease of 4.4%), White children (1999 rate, 1.5; 2020 rate, 1.3; overall decrease of 0.7%), and children in the Northeast (1999 rate, 2.0; 2020 rate, 1.7; overall decrease of 1.4%). Homicides of children 10 years or younger were most commonly precipitated by abuse/neglect, perpetrated by parents/caregivers. Homicides of 11- to 17-year-olds were most commonly precipitated by crime and arguments and perpetrated by someone known to them, especially friends and acquaintances.
The decline in homicide rates for some geographic and child demographic groups is encouraging; however, rates recently increased across several subpopulations, with some racial and ethnic disparities persisting for more than 20 years. More targeted strategies are needed to (1) protect 6- to 10-year-olds, 11- to 17-year-olds, and children in certain geographic areas and (2) urgently address firearm violence, racism, and inequities at the root of youth violence.
Physical punishment (PP), which may involve the use of physical force, has been linked to negative effects in children and can escalate to abusive or harsh PP, resulting in injury or death.
To ...examine characteristics associated with fatal abuse involving caregiver use of harsh PP.
Data were from the National Violent Death Reporting System in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for years 2012–2018. Qualitative analysis was used to code textual material into categorial data, and logistic regression was used to examine associations between various characteristics and harsh PP.
Approximately 4 % (n = 87) of the 2414 abuse-related homicides were known to have been precipitated by caregiver use of harsh PP. In adjusted models, homicides had greater odds of being harsh PP-related when incidents involved mothers' male companions (versus fathers), victims had a previous nonfatal injury (versus no previous nonfatal injury), and another adult participated in the fatal incident or had awareness of prior abuse/neglect (versus those without this characteristic). Two common precipitators of caregivers' use of harsh PP were: 1) child had a bathroom-related accident/soiled clothes (23.0 %; n = 20), and 2) child disobeyed a directive given by the perpetrator (17.2 %; n = 15).
This study highlights characteristics associated with fatal abuse precipitated by caregiver use of harsh PP. Children were physically punished for developmentally normative behaviors. Ensuring caregivers are aware of and use effective parenting practices that focus on use of nonphysical discipline and promote healthy child development, may help decrease harsh PP and physical abuse-related homicides among children.
The VERITAS collaboration reports the detection of very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1218+304 located at a redshift of z = 0.182. A gamma-ray signal ...was detected with a statistical significance of 10.4 standard deviations (10.4s) for the observations taken during the first three months of 2007, confirming the discovery of this object made by the MAGIC collaboration. The photon spectrum between ~160 GeV and ~1.8 TeV is well described by a power law with an index of = 3.08 ± 0.34stat ± 0.2sys. The integral flux is (E>200GeV) = (12.2 ± 2.6) X 10-12 cm-2 s-1, which corresponds to ~6% of that of the Crab Nebula. The light curve does not show any evidence for very high energy flux variability. Using lower limits on the density of the extragalactic background light in the near to mid-infrared, we are able to limit the range of intrinsic energy spectra for 1ES 1218+304. We show that the intrinsic photon spectrum has an index that is harder than = 2.32 ± 0.37stat. When including constraints from the spectra of 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 0229+200, the spectrum of 1ES 1218+304 is likely to be harder than = 1.86 ± 0.37stat.
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