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52. A Radio-selected Population of Dark, Long Gamma-ray Bursts: Comparison to the Long Gamma-ray Burst Population and Implications for Host Dust Distributions

Author

Schroeder, Genevieve, Laskar, Tanmoy, Fong, Wen-fai, Nugent, Anya E., Berger, Edo, Chornock, Ryan, Alexander, Kate D., Andrews, Jennifer, Bussmann, R. Shane, Castro-Tirado, Alberto J., Goyal, Armaan V., Kilpatrick, Charles D., Lally, Maura, Miller, Adam, Milne, Peter, Paterson, Kerry, Escorial, Alicia Rouco, Stroh, Michael C., Terreran, Giacomo, and Zauderer, Bevin Ashley

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

We present cm-band and mm-band afterglow observations of five long-duration $\gamma$-ray bursts (GRBs; GRB 130131A, 130420B, 130609A, 131229A, 140713A) with dust-obscured optical afterglow emission, known as "dark" GRBs. We detect the radio afterglow of two of the dark GRBs (GRB 130131A and 140713A), along with a tentative detection of a third (GRB 131229A) with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). Supplemented by three additional VLA-detected dark GRBs from the literature, we present uniform modeling of their broadband afterglows. We derive high line-of-sight dust extinctions of $A_{V, \rm GRB} \gtrsim 2.2 - 10.6~{\rm mag}$. Additionally, we model the host galaxies of the six bursts in our sample, and derive host galaxy dust extinctions of $A_{V, \rm Host} \approx 0.3-4.7~{\rm mag}$. Across all tested $\gamma$-ray (fluence and duration) and afterglow properties (energy scales, geometries and circumburst densities), we find dark GRBs to be representative of more typical unobscured long GRBs, except in fluence, for which observational biases and inconsistent classification may influence the dark GRB distribution. Additionally, we find that $A_{V, \rm GRB}$ is not related to a uniform distribution of dust throughout the host, nor to the extremely local environment of the burst, indicating that a larger scale patchy dust distribution is the cause of the high line-of-sight extinction. Since radio observations are invaluable to revealing heavily dust-obscured GRBs, we make predictions for the detection of radio emission from host star formation with the next generation VLA., Comment: 40 pages, 15 figures, submitted to ApJ

Published
2022
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55. Reassessing the Evidence for Time Variability in the Atmosphere of the Exoplanet HAT-P-7 b

Author

Lally, Maura and Vanderburg, Andrew

Subjects
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract

We reassess the claimed detection of variability in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HAT-P-7 b, reported by Armstrong et al. (2016). Although astronomers expect hot Jupiters to have changing atmospheres, variability is challenging to detect. We looked for time variation in the phase curves of HAT-P-7 b in Kepler data using similar methods to Armstrong et al. (2016), and identified apparently significant variations similar to what they found. Numerous tests show the variations to be mostly robust to different analysis strategies. However, when we injected unchanging phase curve signals into the light curves of other stars and searched for variability, we often saw similar levels of variations as in the HAT-P-7 light curve. Fourier analysis of the HAT-P-7 light curve revealed background red noise from stellar supergranulation on timescales similar to the planet's orbital period. Tests of simulated light curves with the same level of noise as HAT-P-7's supergranulation show that this effect alone can cause the amplitude and phase offset variability we detect for HAT-P-7 b. Therefore, the apparent variations in HAT-P-7 b's atmosphere could instead be caused by non-planetary sources, most likely photometric variability due to supergranulation on the host star., Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

Published
2022
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56. Lifespan Development : A Psychological Perspective

Author

Lally, Martha, author and Valentine-French, Suzanne

Subjects
Social sciences, Psychology, Textbooks
Abstract

Developmental Psychology, also known as Human Development or Lifespan Development, is the scientific study of ways in which people change, as well as stay the same, from conception to death. You will no doubt discover in the course of studying that the field examines change across a broad range of topics. These include physical and other psychophysiological processes, cognition, language, and psychosocial development, including the impact of family and peers.

Published
2022

61. Challenges in the diagnosis and control of female genital schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: an exemplar case report associated with mixed and putative hybrid schistosome infection in Nsanje District, Southern Malawi

Author

Sekeleghe A. Kayuni, Lucas J. Cunningham, Dingase Kumwenda, Bright Mainga, David Lally, Priscilla Chammudzi, Donales Kapira, Gladys Namacha, Bessie Ntaba, Alice Chisale, Tereza Nchembe, Luis Kinley, Ephraim Chibwana, Alexandra Juhasz, Sam Jones, John Archer, Peter Makaula, John Chiphwanya, E. James LaCourse, Janelisa Musaya, and J. Russell Stothard

Subjects
genital schistosomiasis, FGS, STIs, zoonotic, hybrid, real-time PCR, Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine, RC955-962
Abstract

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) remains an often overlooked chronic complication of urogenital schistosomiasis in adolescent girls and women. Moreover, the role of zoonotic or hybrid schistosome infection(s) is poorly appreciated, but is increasingly becoming an emerging public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Southern Malawi, during the “Hybridization in UroGenital Schistosomiasis (HUGS)” study visit, we describe the case of a 33-year-old woman with suspected FGS who partook in a detailed external assessment with internal cervical examination using a portable colposcope. She provided several biological samples for analysis with traditional and molecular parasitological methods—urine, cervicovaginal lavage (CVL), cervical swabs, and external mass and cervical biopsies—alongside provision of detailed demographic information after a thorough medical history questionnaire and an in-depth interview. These samples were screened for the presence of Schistosoma ova on microscopy and DNA genotyping using a novel real-time PCR assay in parallel to pre-published probe-based PCR assays capable of identifying and discriminating up to six named Schistosoma species. A further molecular screen of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia spp., and human papilloma virus (HPV) was conducted on her genital swab and CVL. Overt FGS was diagnosed on clinical colposcopy alongside inspection of the cervical biopsy by microscopy, real-time PCR, and histopathology. The urine filtration, microscopy and real-time PCR of the CVL and swab were negative. This evidences the typical diagnostic challenge, and cases such as this will pose an unmet need in satisfactory patient management. In addition to Schistosoma haematobium, the presence of the zoonotic species Schistosoma mattheei and concurrent STIs raise questions as to the long-term effectiveness of the current control strategies of the National Control Programme to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem. Improved availability of and regular accessibility to praziquantel treatment for women at risk such as this are urgently needed. Furthermore, targeted health education, increased community awareness, and dovetailing of synergistic activities and strategies with other health stakeholders such as those in sexual and reproductive health, as well as HIV/AIDS programs in the Ministry of Health, are needed here and in neighboring countries.

Published
2024
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62. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in the treatment of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD): a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial studying the addition of ECP to standard care in the treatment of bilateral lung transplant patients with CLAD (E-CLAD UK)

Author

Martin Carby, Jasvir Parmar, Andrew Bryant, Thomas Chadwick, Luke Vale, Catherine Exley, Andrew J Fisher, Helen Hancock, Richard Thompson, Joanne Lally, Andrew R Gennery, Michelle Bardgett, Siân Russell, Michael White, James MS Wason, Nicola Goudie, Anneka Kershaw, Julia Phillipson, Alex Bevin-Nicholls, Hesther Smith, Laura Frisby, Rebecca Errington, and Karthik Santhanakrishnan

Subjects
Medicine, Diseases of the respiratory system, RC705-779
Abstract

Background Long-term survival after lung transplantation is limited compared with other organ transplants. The main cause is development of progressive immune-mediated damage to the lung allograft. This damage, which can develop via multiple immune pathways, is captured under the umbrella term chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Despite the availability of powerful immunosuppressive drugs, there are presently no treatments proven to reverse or reliably halt the loss of lung function caused by CLAD. The aim of the E-CLAD UK trial is to determine whether the addition of immunomodulatory therapy, in the form of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), to standard care is more efficacious at stabilising lung function in CLAD compared with standard care alone.Methods and analysis E-CLAD UK is a Phase II clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (Methoxsalen) delivered to a buffy coat prepared via an enclosed ECP circuit. Target recruitment is 90 bilateral lung transplant patients identified as having CLAD and being treated at one of the five UK adult lung transplant centres. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to intervention plus standard of care, or standard of care alone. Intervention will comprise nine ECP cycles spread over 20 weeks, each course involving two treatments of ECP on consecutive days. All participants will be followed up for a period of 24 weeks.The primary outcome is lung function stabilisation derived from change in forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity at 12 and 24 weeks compared with baseline at study entry. Other parameters include change in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and safety. A mechanistic study will seek to identify molecular or cellular markers linked to treatment response and qualitative interviews will explore patient experiences of CLAD and the ECP treatment.A patient and public advisory group is integral to the trial from design to implementation, developing material to support the consent process and interview materials.Ethics and dissemination The East Midlands—Derby Research Ethics Committee has provided ethical approval (REC 22/EM/0218). Dissemination will be via publications, patient-friendly summaries and presentation at scientific meetings.Trial registration number EudraCT number 2022-002659-20; ISRCTN 10615985.

Published
2024
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63. Schooling for Refugee Children

Author

Hargreaves, Eleanore, Lally, Brian, Akar, Bassel, Al-Waeli, Jumana, and Costello, Jasmine

Subjects
Schooling, refugee children, Syria, Lebanon, London, education, social justice, displacement, participation, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JN Education, thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBF Social and ethical issues::JBFA Social discrimination and social justice, thema EDItEUR::Y Children’s, Teenage and Educational::YX Children’s / Teenage: Personal and social topics::YXZ Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics::YXZM Children’s / Teenage social topics: Migration / refugees
Abstract

Schooling for Refugee Children is a collaboration between five authors who explore their interactions with refugee children displaced from Syria to the Lebanese borders and London. Through a programme of carefully tailored research activities, they analyse the children’s representations of their personal journeys and current circumstances, especially with regard to ongoing schooling. The children’s experiences are expressed through their own words and drawings, disrupting the stereotype of children as ‘receivers’ rather than empowered actors, and challenging traditional solutions for improving schooling. Throughout, the children are eloquent about their schooling in the context of displacement. Their views and illustrations depict a keen awareness of social justice issues, including on the distribution of wealth, recognition of status and representation of voice. These are framed by the authors within Nancy Fraser’s concept of social justice as parity-of-participation. In this way, the book brings to light important representations of some empowering experiences lived through by refugee children from Syria, as well as their thoughts on what has helped their learning and what can be done better. The children’s need for care and a sense of belonging in their schools and new communities is given particular emphasis throughout the book, represented by one child, who simply requested, ‘Add some more love!’

Published
2024
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65. ePose: Let's Make EfficientPose More Generally Applicable

Author

Lally, Austin, Bain, Robert, and Alotaibi, Mazen

Subjects
Computer Science - Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Computer Science - Machine Learning
Abstract

EfficientPose is an impressive 3D object detection model. It has been demonstrated to be quick, scalable, and accurate, especially when considering that it uses only RGB inputs. In this paper we try to improve on EfficientPose by giving it the ability to infer an object's size, and by simplifying both the data collection and loss calculations. We evaluated ePose using the Linemod dataset and a new subset of it called "Occlusion 1-class". We also outline our current progress and thoughts about using ePose with the NuScenes and the 2017 KITTI 3D Object Detection datasets. The source code is available at https://github.com/tbd-clip/EfficientPose., Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures

Published
2021

66. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial

Author

Alezzandrini, Arturo, Francone, Anibal Andres, Bafalluy, Joaquín, Bainttein, Silvina, Luna Pinto, Jose, Saravia, Mario, Vidosevich, Matko, Zeolite, Carlos, Furno Sola, Federico, Chang, Andrew, Cornish, Elisa Eleanor Guida, Nguyen, Thanh, Findl, Oliver, Haas, Anton, Kralinger, Martina, Sacu, Stefan, Postelmans, Laurence Dominique, Farah, Michel, Maia, Mauricio, Nehemy, Marcio, Ali, Fareed, Brent, Michael, Dollin, Michael, Gonder, John, Kherani, Amin, Merkur, Andrew, Tuli, Raman, Lopera, Monica Marie, Rodriguez, Francisco, Bradvica, Mario, Ernest, Jan, Kalijurand, Kuldar, Noor, Kai, Cohen, Yves, Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine, De Bats, Flore, Devin, François, Français-Maury, Catherine, Kodjikian, Laurent, Korobelnik, Jean François, Le Mer, Yannick, Quaranta El Maftouhi, Maddalena, Razavi, Sam, Souied, Eric, Tadayoni, Ramin, Weber, Michel, Eter, Nicole, Feltgen, Nicolas, Grisanti, Salvatore, Walter, Peter, Liegl, Raffael, Lorenz, Katrin, Spital, Georg, Priglinger, Siegfried, Spitzer, Martin, Volker, Michael, Krohne, Tim, Jochmann, Claudia, Lohmann, Chris Patrick, Framme, Carsten, Kerenyi, Agnes, Papp, Andras, Seres, Andras, Toth-Molnar, Edit, Tsorbatzoglou, Alexis, Vajas, Atilla, Varsanyi, Balázs, Vogt, Gabor, Bar, Asaf, Eting, Eva, Hauser, David, Levy, Jamie, Mathalone, Nurit, Morori-Katz, Haia, Rosenblatt, Irit, Soudry-Zayit, Shiri, Trivizky, Omert, Bandello, Francesco, Ciardella, Antonio Pasquale, Figus, Michele, Giansanti, Fabrizio, Lanzetta, Paolo, Mariotti, Cesare, Mastropasqua, Leonardo, Midena, Edoardo, Parmeggiani, Francesco, Ricci, Federico, Simonelli, Francesca, Staurenghi, Giovanni, Viola, Francesco, Varano, Monica, Laganovska, Guna, Cisiecki, Sławomir, Jedrzejewski, Wojciech, Kaluzny, Jakub, Misiuk-Hojło, Marta, Abengoechea, Santiago, Iribarren, Javier Araiz, Ascaso, Franciso Javier, Cubero, Juan Manuel, Gallego-Pinazo, Roberto, Gomez-Ulla De Irazazabal, Francisco, Mestre, Ignasi Jürgens, Mones I Carilla, Jordi Manel, Montero Moreno, Javier, María Ruiz Moreno, José, Sararols Ramsay, Laura, Garcia Layana, Alfredo, Downey, Louise, Abraham, Prema, Alfaro, Daniel Virgil, Bagheri, Nika, Barbazetto, Irene, Benevento, Joseph, Bernstein, Paul, Bertolucci, George, Bhavsar, Abdhish, Bridges, William, Brooks, Jr, Harold Logan, Brown, Jamin, Brucker, Alexander, Calvo, Charles M., Capone, Antonio, Carlson, John, Chan, Clement, Chang, Emmanuel, Chan-Kai, Brian, Chaudhry, Nauman, Chen, Sanford, Csaky, Karl, Cummings, Howard, Danzig, Carl, Dessouki, Amr, Dyer, David, Eaton, Alexander, Eichenbaum, David, Faber, David, Feldman, Robert, Finnen, Neil, Freeman, William, Frenkel, Ronald, Gonzales, Christine, Gonzalez, Victor, Gross, John, Gupta, Sunil, Hall, Edward, Han, Min-Kyu, Heier, Jeffrey, Hershberger, Vrinda, Higgins, Patrick, Hsu, Jason, Ip, Michael, Jablon, Eric, Jewart, Brian, John, Vishak, Jonisch, Jonathan, Joondeph, Brian, Kay, Christine, Khanani, Arshad, Kokame, Gregg T., Kwun, Robert, Lai, Michael, Lally, David, Laud, Ketan, Lavina, Adrian, Lee, Michael, Lin, Phoebe, Lin, Haijiang, Manoharan, Niranjan, Marcus, Dennis, Martidis, Adam, McCabe, Frank, Nielsen, Jared, Osher, James, Palmer, James, Patel, Sunil, Pearlman, Joel, Perkins, Stephen, Pirouz, Ashkan, Qureshi, Jawad, Randolph, John, Piri, Niloofar, Rosenfeld, Phillip, Saperstein, David, Scartozzi, Richard, Schwartz, Steven, Sharma, Ashish, Sharma, Atul, Sheth, Veeral, Singer, Michael, Spinak, David, Suan, Eric, Tabandeh, Homayoun, Tabassian, Ali, Uchiyama, Eduardo, Varenhorst, Michael, Wagner, Alan, Warrow, David, Wells, III, John, Wong, Robert, Wong, Keye, Wykoff, Charles, Xavier, Samantha, Ysasaga, Edward, Khanani, Arshad M, Patel, Sunil S, Danzig, Carl J, Eichenbaum, David A, Wykoff, Charles C, Heier, Jeffrey S, Lally, David R, Monés, Jordi, Nielsen, Jared S, Sheth, Veeral S, Kaiser, Peter K, Clark, Julie, Zhu, Liansheng, Patel, Hersh, Tang, Justin, Desai, Dhaval, and Jaffe, Glenn J

Published
2023
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67. A History of the Boston Teachers Union: 1980 - 2010

Author

Michael J. Lally

Abstract

This historical study examines how the Boston Teachers' Union responded to the ever-changing complexities of urban education in the years 1980-2010. Using sociohistorical methods along with loose-coupling theory, it details the union's relationship with other decision-making sectors within the school district and the state, as well as documenting challenges the union has faced within its membership. In addition to chronicling the tensions resulting from collective bargaining, charter schools, and state and federal legislation, this study also address issues within the union surrounding racial tensions and professionalism and how these issues impacted on the union's participation in the various school reforms of the period. This dissertation addresses how the union itself defined school reform and what impact this definition had on one teachers' union local affiliate. The study is divided into four major themes: education reform, collective bargaining, relationships with other stakeholders, and economic budgetary issues. The study describes how the primary purpose of the BTU had evolved over the years from a focus on "bread and butter issues" into a process in which the union now had a say in education reform issues in Boston. The early years of adversarial bargaining had been replaced by "win-win" and "principled" negotiations. The scope of the union mission had expanded, and the BTU had shown itself willing to cede some contractual rights in the name of education reform. No longer could the BTU be seen as a hindrance to education reform. While the nature of the relationships with other stakeholders was not always ideal, the BTU and these stakeholders were able to move beyond politics and act in the interests of students to develop relationships that helped, not hindered to effect educational reform initiatives in Boston. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

Published
2023

75. “We will build together”: Sowing the seeds of SEL statewide

Author

Shapiro, Valerie B., Duane, Addison M., Lee, Mai Xi, Jones, Tiffany M., Metzger, Ashley N., Khan, Sobia, Cook, Channa M., Hwang, Sophia H.J., Malicote, Brent, Nuñez, Alejandro, Lee, Juyeon, McLaughlin, Mike, Caballero, Jonathan A., Moore, Julia E., Williams, Christopher, Eva, Amy L., Ferreira, Colleen, McVeagh-Lally, Pamela, and Kooler, Jim

Published
2024
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78. Coherence dynamics in non-Markovian quantum Brownian motion

Author

Lally, Mehsati Sapphire, Al-Khalili, Jim, and Rocco, Andrea

Abstract

We present a perturbative non-Markovian extension to the Caldeira-Leggett 'system + environment model' of quantum Brownian motion, valid for general potentials and high temperatures. By expanding the Laplace transforms of the noise and dissipation kernels, we derive a master equation which describes the evolution of the reduced density matrix of a system of interest. By using a Fourier transform approach combined with the method of characteristics, an analytic solution is derived for the free particle case. The solution is plotted and discussed. The decoherence process is altered only slightly by the introduction of non-Markovianity, which we explain with a timescale argument. A new phenomenon which we term "lateral coherence" is observed. This is found to correspond to a resurgence of the l1-norm of coherence, at times much later than the decoherence time. We find that the coherence resurgence causes a transient reduction in the von Neumann entropy, and link this to an increasing body of work which makes links between non-Markovianity and entropy decrease. We show that this effect is independent of the high-frequency behaviour of the spectral density. Finally, we make some speculations about the relevance of our results in quantum biology, and suggest future avenues of research.

Published
2022
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82. Mineralogical Measurements of Mars-Analog Eskers from Iceland

Author

E B Rampe, C L DeAnda, A M Rutledge, K A Bennett, L A Edgar, C S Edwards, H Eifert, A Koeppel, N Jones, A Y Li, and A Lally

Subjects
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration
Abstract

Orbital morphological observations of Mars demonstrate evidence for glaciation in the Hesperian and Amazonian eras [e.g., 1-2]. The discovery of sinuous ridges in association with relatively young (~100s Ma) buried glaciers suggests recent wet-based glaciation led to the formation of eskers [e.g., 3]. It is important to be able to discriminate eskers on Mars from other sinuous ridges (e.g., inverted river channels) to better characterize past aqueous environments on Mars and their potential as habitable environments. Our group is studying the geomorphology, sedimentology, and mineralogical composition of Mars-analog eskers in Iceland to identify signatures of eskers that would enable us to positively identify them on Mars [4]. Here, we present mineralogical measurements of sediments collected from eskers and the surrounding proglacial plains at the terminus of Breiðamerkurjökull in southeast Iceland (Figure 1) to determine whether the mineral assemblage within eskers can be used to uniquely identify them on the martian surface.

Published
2024

92. GDF15 promotes weight loss by enhancing energy expenditure in muscle

Author

Wang, Dongdong, Townsend, Logan K., DesOrmeaux, Geneviève J., Frangos, Sara M., Batchuluun, Battsetseg, Dumont, Lauralyne, Kuhre, Rune Ehrenreich, Ahmadi, Elham, Hu, Sumei, Rebalka, Irena A., Gautam, Jaya, Jabile, Maria Joy Therese, Pileggi, Chantal A., Rehal, Sonia, Desjardins, Eric M., Tsakiridis, Evangelia E., Lally, James S. V., Juracic, Emma Sara, Tupling, A. Russell, Gerstein, Hertzel C., Paré, Guillaume, Tsakiridis, Theodoros, Harper, Mary-Ellen, Hawke, Thomas J., Speakman, John R., Blondin, Denis P., Holloway, Graham P., Jørgensen, Sebastian Beck, and Steinberg, Gregory R.

Published
2023
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94. The feasibility and acceptability of an app‐based intervention with brief behavioural support (APPROACH) to promote brisk walking in people diagnosed with breast, prostate and colorectal cancer in the UK

Author

Phillippa Lally, Fiona Kennedy, Susan Smith, Rebecca J. Beeken, Caroline Buck, Chloe Thomas, Nicholas Counsell, Lynda Wyld, Charlene Martin, Sarah Williams, Anna Roberts, Diana M. Greenfield, Jacqui Gath, Henry W. W. Potts, Nicholas Latimer, Lee Smith, and Abi Fisher

Subjects
brisk walking, cancer survivors, habits, mobile apps, physical activity, pilot study, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
Abstract

Abstract Introduction Increased moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can improve clinical and psychosocial outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a theory‐driven app‐based intervention with behavioural support focused on promoting brisk walking (a form of MVPA) in people LWBC (APPROACH). Methods Participants diagnosed with breast, prostate or colorectal cancer were recruited from a single UK hospital site. Assessments at baseline and 3 months included online questionnaires, device‐measured brisk walking (activPAL accelerometer) and self‐reported weight and height. Participants were randomised to intervention or control (care as usual). The intervention comprised a non‐cancer‐specific app to promote brisk walking (National Health Service ‘Active 10’) augmented with print information about habit formation, a walking planner and two behavioural support telephone calls. Feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures were explored. Initial estimates for physical activity informed a power calculation for a phase III RCT. A preliminary health economics analysis was conducted. Results Of those medically eligible, 369/577 (64%) were willing to answer further eligibility questions and 90/148 (61%) of those eligible were enrolled. Feasibility outcomes, including retention (97%), assessment completion rates (>86%) and app download rates in the intervention group (96%), suggest that the trial procedures are acceptable and that the intervention is feasible. The phase III RCT will require 472 participants to be randomised. As expected, the preliminary health economic analyses indicate a high level of uncertainty around the cost‐effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrates that a large trial of the brisk walking intervention with behavioural support is both feasible and acceptable to people LWBC. The results support progression onto a confirmatory phase III trial to determine the efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of the intervention.

Published
2024
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95. GRB 180418A: A possibly-short GRB with a wide-angle outflow in a faint host galaxy

Author

Escorial, Alicia Rouco, Fong, Wen-fai, Veres, Peter, Laskar, Tanmoy, Lien, Amy, Paterson, Kerry, Lally, Maura, Blanchard, Peter K., Nugent, Anya E., Tanvir, Nial R., Cornish, Dylaan, Berger, Edo, Burns, Eric, Cenko, Brad, Cobb, Bethany E., Cucchiara, Antonio, Goldstein, Adam, Margutti, Raffaella, Metzger, Brian, Milne, Peter, Levan, Andrew, Nicholl, Matt, and Smith, Nathan

Subjects
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Abstract

We present X-ray and multi-band optical observations of the afterglow and host galaxy of GRB 180418A, discovered by ${\it Swift}$/BAT and ${\it Fermi}$/GBM. We present a reanalysis of the GBM and BAT data deriving durations of the prompt emission of $T_{90}\approx$2.56s and $\approx$1.90s, respectively. Modeling the ${\it Fermi}$/GBM catalog of 1405 bursts (2008-2014) in the Hardness-$T_{90}$ plane, we obtain a probability of $\approx$60% that GRB 180418A is a short-hard burst. From a combination of ${\it Swift}$/XRT and ${\it Chandra}$ observations, the X-ray afterglow is detected to $\approx$38.5 days after the burst, and exhibits a single power-law decline with $F_{\rm X} \propto t^{-0.98}$. Late-time Gemini observations reveal a faint r$\approx$25.69 mag host galaxy at an angular offset of $\approx$0.16''. At the likely redshift range of z$\approx$1-2.25, we find that the X-ray afterglow luminosity of GRB 180418A is intermediate between short and long GRBs at all epochs during which there is contemporaneous data, and that GRB 180418A lies closer to the $E_{\gamma,{\rm peak}}-E_{\gamma,{\rm iso}}$ correlation for short GRBs. Modeling the multi-wavelength afterglow with the standard synchrotron model, we derive the burst explosion properties and find a jet opening angle of $\theta_{\rm j} \gtrsim 9-14^{\circ}$. If GRB 180418A is a short GRB that originated from a neutron star merger, it has one of the brightest and longest-lived afterglows along with an extremely faint host galaxy. If instead the event is a long GRB that originated from a massive star collapse, it has among the lowest luminosity afterglows, and lies in a peculiar space in terms of the Hardness-$T_{90}$ and $E_{\gamma,{\rm peak}}-E_{\gamma,{\rm iso}}$ planes., Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables (Accepted, ApJ)

Published
2020
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96. Searching for the Casimir Energy

Author

Pérez-Morelo, Diego, Stange, Alexander, Lally, Richard W., Barrett, Lawrence K., Imboden, Matthias, Campbell, David K., Aksyuk, Vladimir A., and Bishop, David J.

Subjects
Physics - Applied Physics, Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Abstract

In this article, we present a nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) designed to detect changes in the Casimir Energy. The Casimir effect is a result of the appearance of quantum fluctuations in the electromagnetic vacuum. Previous experiments have used nano- or micro- scale parallel plate capacitors to detect the Casimir force by measuring the small attractive force these fluctuations exert between the two surfaces. In this new set of experiments, we aim to directly detect shifts in the Casimir $\textit{energy}$ in the vacuum due to the presence of metallic parallel plates, one of which is a superconductor. A change in the Casimir energy of this configuration is predicted to shift the superconducting transition temperature (T$_\textrm{c}$) because of an interaction between it and the superconducting condensation energy. The experiment we discuss consists of taking a superconducting film, carefully measuring its transition temperature, bringing a conducting plate close to the film, creating a Casimir cavity, and then measuring the transition temperature again. The expected shifts will be small, comparable to the normal shifts one sees in cycling superconducting films to cryogenic temperatures and so using a NEMS resonator and doing this in situ is the only practical way to obtain accurate, reproducible data. Using a thin Pb film and opposing Au surface, we observe no shift in T$_\textrm{c}$ greater than 12 $\mu$K down to a minimum spacing of approximately 70 nm.

Published
2020
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