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Anomalous OH masers were detected towards supernova remnants (SNRs) more than 30 years ago. The satellite line at 1720 MHz was detected in emission, while the main lines (1665 and 1667 MHz) and the other satellite line, at 1612 MHz, occurred only in absorption. Independently, 25 years ago, a theoretical model was proposed whereby 1720 MHz OH masers could be collisionally excited by the passage of a shock through a molecular cloud. For an efficient inversion of the 1720 MHz transition, the gas should have a narrow range of physical properties, namely a kinetic temperature 50 ≤ T K ≤ 125 K, a volume density n H 2 ∼ 105 cm−3, and a column density of OH gas 1016–1017 cm−2. However, it was not until 1994, with interferometric observations, that the importance of studies of these masers, formed when an SNR is in direct interaction with a molecular cloud, was realised. This discovery triggered a series of surveys to search all known Galactic SNRs. I will review the outcomes of these surveys and discuss the consequences of using 1720 MHz masers as a diagnostic tool for calculating shocked gas conditions, for magnetic field determinations (from Zeeman splitting measurements) and for measuring the properties of SNRs.

We have carried out an H I survey towards X-ray central compact objects (CCOs) inside supernova remnants (SNRs), which shows that many of them are placed within local H I minimA. The nature of these minima is not clear, but the most likely explanation is that the CCOs have evacuated the neighboring gas. This survey also allowed us to detect a weak, diffuse radio nebula inside the SNR G266.2−1.2, probably created by the winds of its associated CCO.

Prenatal maternal depression and a multilocus genetic profile of two susceptibility genes implicated in the stress response were examined in an interaction model predicting negative emotionality in the first 3 years. In 179 mother–infant dyads from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability, and Neurodevelopment cohort, prenatal depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressions Scale) was assessed at 24 to 36 weeks. The multilocus genetic profile score consisted of the number of susceptibility alleles from the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region gene (5-HTTLPR): no long-rs25531(A) (LA: short/short, short/long-rs25531(G) [LG], or LG/LG] vs. any LA) and the dopamine receptor D4 gene (six to eight repeats vs. two to five repeats). Negative emotionality was extracted from the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire—Revised at 3 and 6 months and the Early Child Behavior Questionnaire at 18 and 36 months. Mixed and confirmatory regression analyses indicated that prenatal depression and the multilocus genetic profile interacted to predict negative emotionality from 3 to 36 months. The results were characterized by a differential susceptibility model at 3 and 6 months and by a diathesis–stress model at 36 months.

Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) direct detection experiments are just reaching the sensitivity required to detect Galactic dark matter in the form of neutralinos (or indeed any stable weakly interacting particle). Detection strategies and data analyses are often based on the simplifying assumption of a standard spherical, isothermal halo model, but observations and numerical simulations indicate that galaxy halos are in fact triaxial and anisotropic, and contain substructure. the annual modulation and direction dependence of the event rate (due to the motion of the Earth) provide the best prospects of distinguishing WIMP scattering from background events, however these signals depend sensitively on the local WIMP velocity distribution. I briefly review the status of WIMP direct detection experiments before discussing the dependence of the annual modulation signal on astrophysical input, in particular the structure of the Milky Way halo, and the possibility that the local WIMP distribution is not smooth.

A narrow-band translator and filter system has been constructed for the Parkes Multibeam receiver. This brief note outlines the characteristics of the system and indicates the range of new projects that will be possible in studies of the Magellanic Clouds.

Disorganized attachment is an important early risk factor for socioemotional problems throughout childhood and into adulthood. Prevailing models of the etiology of disorganized attachment emphasize the role of highly dysfunctional parenting, to the exclusion of complex models examining the interplay of child and parental factors. Decades of research have established that extreme child birth weight may have long-term effects on developmental processes. These effects are typically negative, but this is not always the case. Recent studies have also identified the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) as a moderator of childrearing effects on the development of disorganized attachment. However, there are inconsistent findings concerning which variant of the polymorphism (seven-repeat long-form allele or non–seven-repeat short-form allele) is most likely to interact with caregiving in predicting disorganized versus organized attachment. In this study, we examined possible two- and three-way interactions and child DRD4 polymorphisms and birth weight and maternal caregiving at age 6 months in longitudinally predicting attachment disorganization at 36 months. Our sample is from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment project, a sample of 650 mother–child dyads. Birth weight was cross-referenced with normative data to calculate birth weight percentile. Infant DRD4 was obtained with buccal swabs and categorized according to the presence of the putative allele seven repeat. Macroanalytic and microanalytic measures of maternal behavior were extracted from a videotaped session of 20 min of nonfeeding interaction followed by a 10-min divided attention maternal task at 6 months. Attachment was assessed at 36 months using the Strange Situation procedure, and categorized into disorganized attachment and others. The results indicated that a main effect for DRD4 and a two-way interaction of birth weight and 6-month maternal attention (frequency of maternal looking away behavior) and sensitivity predicted disorganized attachment in robust logistic regression models adjusted for social demographic covariates. Specifically, children in the midrange of birth weight were more likely to develop a disorganized attachment when exposed to less attentive maternal care. However, the association reversed with extreme birth weight (low and high). The DRD4 seven-repeat allele was associated with less disorganized attachment (protective), while non–seven-repeat children were more likely to be classified as disorganized attachment. The implications for understanding inconsistencies in the literature about which DRD4 genotype is the risk direction are also considered. Suggestions for intervention with families with infants at different levels of biological risk and caregiving risk are also discussed.

Introduction: The National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) and National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) are both well-positioned to promote the use of population-based tobacco cessation interventions, such as state quitlines and Web-based interventions.

Aims: This paper outlines the methodology used to conduct a comparative effectiveness research (CER) study of traditional and Web-based tobacco cessation and quitline promotion approaches.

Methods: A mixed-methods study with three components was designed to address the effect of promotional activities on service usage and the comparative effectiveness of population-based smoking cessation activities across multiple states.

Results/Findings: The cessation intervention component followed 7,902 smokers (4,307 quitline users and 3,595 Web intervention users) to ascertain prevalence of 30-day abstinence rates seven months after registering for smoking cessation services. User characteristics and quit success was compared across the two modalities. In the promotions component, reach and use of traditional and innovative promotion strategies were assessed for 24 states, including online advertising, state Web sites, social media, mobile applications, and their effects on quitline call volume. The partnership intervention component studied the extent of collaboration among six selected NCCCPs and NTCPs.

Conclusions: This study will guide program staff and clinicians with evidence-based recommendations and best practices for implementation of tobacco cessation within their patient and community populations and establish an evidence base that can be used for decision making.