Deep Springs Valley (DSV) is a hydrologically isolated valley between the White and Inyo mountains that is commonly excluded from regional paleohydrology and paleoclimatology. Previous studies showed that uplift of Deep Springs ridge (informal name) by the Deep Springs fault defeated streams crossing DSV and hydrologically isolated the valley sometime after eruption of the Pleistocene Bishop Tuff (0.772 Ma). Here, we present tephrochronology and clast counts that reaffirms interruption of the Pliocene–Pleistocene hydrology and formation of DSV during the Pleistocene. Paleontology and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dates indicate a freshwater lake inundated Deep Springs Valley from ca. 83–61 ka or during Late Pleistocene Marine Isotope Stages 5a (MIS 5a; ca. 82 ka peak) and 4 (MIS 4; ca. 71–57 ka). The age of pluvial Deep Springs Lake coincides with pluvial lakes in Owens Valley and Columbus Salt Marsh and documents greater effective precipitation in southwestern North America during MIS 5a and MIS 4. In addition, we hypothesize that Deep Springs Lake was a balanced-fill lake that overflowed into Eureka Valley via the Soldier Pass wind gap during MIS 5a and MIS 4. DSV hydrology has implications for dispersal and endemism of the Deep Springs black toad (Anaxyrus exsul).

. We present UVIT/Astrosat UV photometry of the RSG population of the Small Cloud galaxy (SMC). As RSGs are extremely faint in the far-UV, these observations directly probe potential companion stars. From a sample of 861 SMC RSGs, we find 88 have detections at far-UV wavelengths: a clear signature of binarity. Stellar parameters are determined for both components, which allows us to study - for the first time - the mass-ratio (q) distribution of RSG binary systems. We find a flat mass-ratio distribution best describes the observations up to MRSG ∼15M⊙. We account for our main observing bias (i.e. the limiting magnitude of the UVIT survey) to determine the intrinsic RSG binary fraction of 18.8 ± 1.5 %, for mass-ratios in the range 0.3.<q<1.0 and orbital periods approximately in the range 3<log P[days]<8.

The core of the cluster R136 in the Large Magellanic Cloud hosts the most massive stars known. The high mass-loss rates of these stars strongly impact their surroundings, as well as the evolution of the stars themselves. To quantify this impact accurate mass-loss rates are needed, however, uncertainty about the degree of inhomogeneity of the winds (‘wind clumping’), makes mass-loss measurements uncertain. We combine optical and ultraviolet HST/STIS spectroscopy of 56 stars in the core of R136 in order to put constraints on the wind structure, improving the accuracy of the mass-loss rate measurements. We find that the winds are highly clumped, and use our measured mass-loss rates to test theoretical predictions. Furthermore we find, for the first time, tentative trends in the wind-structure parameters as a function of mass-loss rate, suggesting that the winds of stars with higher mass-loss rates are less clumped than those with lower mass-loss rates.

Vertigo and anxiety are frequent symptoms in both psychiatric and vertigo patients, especially in those with phobic postural vertigo (PPV). The aim of this study was the investigation of anxiety-associated functional responses in PPV patients compared to healthy controls. For that purpose cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4), a valid model to experimentally induce anxiety symptoms, was used.

15 PPV patients and 15 matched healthy controls underwent challenges with CCK-4. During the paradigm, participants did not know the exact time point of the injection in order to separate the anticipatory and CCK-4 induced anxiety. The panic symptom scale score was assessed before and after the injection.

During anticipatory anxiety healthy controls showed functional responses mainly in fronto-temporal regions. Patients suffering from PPV showed pronounced BOLD responses in the (ventral) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and precuneus. In healthy subjects, CCK-4 induced anxiety was accompanied by activations in the medial and inferior frontal cortex. In PPV, the CCK-4 injection led to increased activities particularly in the ACC, the cuneus, the cerebellum, the amygdala and fronto-temporal regions.

Given the fact of increased neuronal responses in emotion-related brain areas in patients with anxiety disorders these findings could provide evidence for common aspects of phobic postural vertigo and anxiety disorders.

An olivine grain from peridotite nodule 9206 (Udachnaya kimberlite) was heated in air at 700°C for 9 h. It was investigated by EMPA, by IR and UV spectroscopy and by TEM. The TEM examination reveals hexagon-like inclusions up to several hundred nm in size with a core and rim structure. The AEM data show that the inclusions contain only Mg, Fe and Si as cations. The rims have almost the same composition as the olivine matrix whereas the cores are enriched in iron and depleted in Mg. Electron diffraction data, SAED and CBED, indicate that the rims are composed of a ‘secondary’ olivine while the cores are composed of coexisting feroxyhite FeOOH, bernalite Fe(OH)3 and β-cristobalite SiO2. The presence of nm-sized inclusions in minerals is expected to influence the interpretation of spectroscopic results if spectroscopy is carried out without knowledge of the microstructure.

It is speculated that the complex microstructure of the inclusions is a result of a solid state transformation of a precursor phase, probably a hydrous magnesian silicate, during the experimental heating and oxidation.

We assess the runoff and surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland ice sheet in the Nuuk region (southwest) using output of two regional climate models (RCMs) evaluated by observations. The region encompasses six glaciers that drain into Godthåbsfjord. RCM data (1960–2012) are resampled to a high spatial resolution to include the narrow (relative to the native grid spacing) glacier trunks in the ice mask. Comparing RCM gridded results with automatic weather station (AWS) point measurements reveals that locally models can underestimate ablation and overestimate accumulation by up to tens of per cent. However, comparison with lake discharge indicates that modelled regional runoff totals are more accurate. Model results show that melt and runoff in the Nuuk region have doubled over the past two decades. Regional SMB attained negative values in recent high-melt years. Taking into account frontal ablation of the marine-terminating glaciers, the region lost 10–20 km3 w.e. a–1 in 2010–12. If 2010 melting prevails during the remainder of this century, a low-end estimate of sea-level rise of 5 mm is expected by 2100 from this relatively small section (2.6%) of the ice sheet alone.

We consider the steady two-dimensional thin-film version of a problem concerning a weightless non-isothermal free fluid film subject to thermocapillarity, proposed and analysed by Pukhnachev and co-workers. Specifically, we extend and correct the paper by Karabut and Pukhnachev (J. Appl. Mech. Tech. Phys. 49, 568–579, 2008), in which the problem is solved numerically, and in which it is claimed that there exists a unique solution for any value of a prescribed heat-flux parameter in the model. We present a closed-form (parametric) solution of the problem, and from this show that, on the contrary, solutions exist only when the heat-flux parameter is less than a critical value found numerically by Karabut and Pukhnachev, and that when this condition is satisfied there are in fact two solutions, one of which recovers that obtained numerically by Karabut and Pukhnachev, the other being new.

The B fields in OB stars (BOB) survey is an ESO large programme collecting spectropolarimetric observations for a large number of early-type stars in order to study the occurrence rate, properties, and ultimately the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars. As of July 2014, a total of 98 objects were observed over 20 nights with FORS2 and HARPSpol. Our preliminary results indicate that the fraction of magnetic OB stars with an organised, detectable field is low. This conclusion, now independently reached by two different surveys, has profound implications for any theoretical model attempting to explain the field formation in these objects. We discuss in this contribution some important issues addressed by our observations (e.g., the lower bound of the field strength) and the discovery of some remarkable objects.

The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) is carrying out a survey as part of an international collaboration to image the northe, at a common resolution, in emission from all major constituents of the interstellar medium; the neutral atomic gas, the molecular gas, the ionised gas, dust and relativistic plasma. For many of these constituents the angular resolution of the images (1 arcmin) will be more than a factor of 10 better than any previous studies. The aim is to produce a publicly-available database of high resolution, high-dynamic range images of the Galaxy for multi-phase studies of the physical states and processes in the interstellar medium. We will sketch the main scientific motivations as well as describe some preliminary results from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey/Releve Canadien du Plan Galactique (CGPS/RCPG).

The Herschel HIFI Key Program, Galactic Observations ofTerahertz C+ (GOT C+) is a survey of[CII] 1.9 THz emission throughout the Galaxy. Comparison of the first results of thissurvey with HI and CO isotopomer emission reveals excess [CII] emission beyond thatexpected from HI and CO layers alone, and is best explained as coming from a hidden layerof H2 gas, the so-called ISM “dark gas”.

The Tarantula Survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epoch spectroscopy of over 1,000 massive stars in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The assembled consortium will exploit these data to address a range of fundamental questions in both stellar and cluster evolution.

We highlight the role of the light elements (Li, Be, B) in the evolution of massive single and binary stars, which is largely restricted to a diagnostic value, and foremost so for the element boron. However, we show that the boron surface abundance in massive early type stars contains key information about their foregoing evolution which is not obtainable otherwise. In particular, it allows to constrain internal mixing processes and potential previous mass transfer event for binary stars (even if the companion has disappeared). It may also help solving the mystery of the slowly rotating nitrogen-rich massive main sequence stars.

Excessive weight loss due to protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) is a significant problem in Nigerian children. This syndrome may be difficult to differentiate from the wasting disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We studied 70 children admitted to the Baptist Medical Center in Ogbomosho, Nigeria in 1990 with PCM for prevalence of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. The cohort was from low-risk mothers and had a median age of 25 months (range, 4 months–9 years) with a weight deficit of at least 20% of the theoretical weight for age. Two sera were positive for anti-HIV-1 by both ELISA and Western blot (WB). A high prevalence of samples negative for HIV-1 antibody by ELISA were repeatedly reactive (11%, 8/70) or indeterminate (46%. 32/70) by WB. None of the sera was positive for antibody to HIV-2. There was no correlation of ELISA positivity or extent of WB banding with successful recovery from malnutrition. These results indicate a relatively low but significant prevalence of HIV-1 infection in Nigerian children with PCM. The high prevalence of indeterminate reactions in WB assays for HIV-1 suggests that other procedures may be necessary for confirmatory diagnosis of HIY-1 infection in this African population.

Abundance anomalies observed in globular cluster stars indicate pollution with material processed by hydrogen burning. Two main sources have been suggested: asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and massive stars rotating near the break-up limit (spin stars). We discuss the idea that massive binaries may provide an interesting alternative source of processed material. We discuss observational evidence for mass shedding from interacting binaries. In contrast to the fast, radiatively driven winds of massive stars, this material is typically ejected with low velocity. We expect that it remains inside the potential well of a globular cluster and becomes available for the formation or pollution of a second generation of stars. We estimate that the amount of processed low-velocity material that can be ejected by massive binaries is larger than the contribution of the two previously suggested sources combined.

The Tarantula Survey is an ambitious ESO Large Programme that has obtained multi-epoch spectroscopy of over 1000 massive stars in the 30 Doradus region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Here, we introduce the scientific motivations of the survey and give an overview of the observational sample. Ultimately, quantitative analysis of every star, paying particular attention to the effects of rotational mixing and binarity, will be used to address fundamental questions in both stellar and cluster evolution.

With growth in retail sales estimated by industry at 15–25% yr−1, organic food represents the only significant growth sector in Canada's food system. This reality, in combination with mounting evidence that substantial environmental and economic benefits can arise from organic farming adoption, suggests that organic sector development should be a priority for governments. However, organic food remains a marginal component of Canadian agricultural and trade policy. This study was designed to examine the opportunities and costs to the province of Ontario of strategic investment in the expansion of the organic sector. Drawing on existing literature and Ontario land use and production data, the study used an iterative process to identify how the province could reach a target of 10% of Ontario's cropped acres in organic production within 15 years, from the current level of about 1%. We concluded that after 15 years 5343 organic farmers would be producing organically in all major commodities, including 4254 converting farmers entering the organic sector and 600 new entrants to farming. The 489 organic farms reported in 2004 would be included in this total of 5343 because we assume that they all make modest additions over this time period to their existing operations. Organic production would occur on about 367,000 ha of land, and some 1.4 million animals would be reared organically. After 15 years, these farmers would reduce fertilizer applications by about 43 million kg (saving $18.4 million yr−1), pesticide applications by about 296,000 kg active ingredient (saving $9.1 million yr−1), and 7079 kg of growth-promoting antibiotics/medications consumed in animal feed. This 30-point program would require new investments by the provincial government of about $51 million over 15 years. Phase I (first 5 years) costs would total $7.1 million and Phase II (following 10 years) costs $43.9 million. Net program costs would be significantly lower since farmers would have directly saved on inputs and received premium organic prices for most of their goods sold, thereby reducing government costs related to supporting farm finances. Additionally, this program would contribute significantly to reducing the externalized costs of current approaches to agriculture, conservatively estimated at $145 million annually or $2.18 billion over the 15-year life of the program. Not all those costs would be saved within 15 years, but this exceedingly modest investment in organic production, representing only 2.3% of these externalized costs, would generate savings in externalized costs far beyond this one-time investment. Implementation of this plan would allow domestic producers to capture 51% of Ontario's organic consumption, up from the currently low-range estimate of 15%. Organic foods would represent 1.9% of the total food retail market after 5 years and 5.3% of the total market after 15 years.