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We present timing solutions for 12 pulsars discovered in the Green Bank North Celestial Cap (GBNCC) 350 MHz pulsar survey, including six millisecond pulsars (MSPs), a double neutron star (DNS) system, and a pulsar orbiting a massive white dwarf companion. Timing solutions presented here include 350 and 820 MHz Green Bank Telescope data from initial confirmation and follow-up as well as a dedicated timing campaign spanning one year. PSR J1122$-$3546 is an isolated MSP, PSRs J1221$-$0633 and J1317$-$0157 are MSPs in black widow systems and regularly exhibit eclipses, and PSRs J2022+2534 and J2039$-$3616 are MSPs that can be timed with high precision and have been included in pulsar timing array experiments seeking to detect low-frequency gravitational waves. PSRs J1221$-$0633 and J2039$-$3616 have Fermi Large Area Telescope $\gamma$-ray counterparts and also exhibit significant $\gamma$-ray pulsations. We measure proper motion for three of the MSPs in this sample and estimate their space velocities, which are typical compared to those of other MSPs. We have detected the advance of periastron for PSR J1018$-$1523 and therefore measure the total mass of the double neutron star system, $m_{\rm tot}=2.3\pm0.3$ M$_{\odot}$. Long-term pulsar timing with data spanning more than one year is critical for classifying recycled pulsars, carrying out detailed astrometry studies, and shedding light on the wealth of information in these systems post-discovery., Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, 7 tables

Background/Introduction N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of ventricular wall stress and a potent predictor of death and heart failure (HF) across multiple populations (from healthy insurance applicants to various disease entities). Purpose To evaluate the prognostic importance of NT-proBNP in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction, pulmonary congestion, or both and ≥1 of 8 predefined risk-augmenting factors (age ≥70 years, diabetes, previous MI, eGFR Methods Patients were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan 200mg or ramipril 5mg twice daily within 0.5 to 7 days of presenting with an AMI. Patients with prior HF were excluded. NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) were collected at randomization in a prespecified sub-study of 1129 patients. The primary endpoint of PARADISE-MI was a time-to-first composite of cardiovascular (CV) death or incident HF (hospitalization or outpatient symptomatic HF); secondary endpoints included all-cause death and the composite of fatal or non-fatal MI or stroke. Results Median NT-proBNP was 1757 pg/ml [interquartile range, 896–3462 pg/ml] at randomization (4.0±1.8 days after presentation with the index MI). Patients with higher NT-proBNP levels at baseline were older, more commonly women and more frequently had hypertension, atrial fibrillation, renal dysfunction, and pulmonary congestion at randomization (all p Conclusions When assessed within the first week of a high risk AMI NT-proBNP is not only associated with incident HF and death but also with atherosclerotic events and provides prognostic information that is independent of hsTnT in this post AMI population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

The Green Bank North Celestial Cap survey is a 350 MHz all-sky survey for pulsars and fast radio transients using the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. To date, the survey has discovered over 190 pulsars, including 33 millisecond pulsars and 24 rotating radio transients. Several exotic pulsars have been discovered in the survey, including PSR J1759+5036, a binary pulsar with a 176 ms spin period in an orbit with a period of 2.04 days, an eccentricity of 0.3, and a projected semi-major axis of 6.8 light seconds. Using seven years of timing data, we are able to measure one post–Keplerian parameter, advance of periastron, which has allowed us to constrain the total system mass to 2.62 ± 0.03 M ⊙. This constraint, along with the spin period and orbital parameters, suggests that this is a double neutron star system, although we cannot entirely rule out a pulsar-white dwarf binary. This pulsar is only detectable in roughly 45% of observations, most likely due to scintillation. However, additional observations are required to determine whether there may be other contributing effects.

Populations of the African penguin Spheniscus demersus have decreased dramatically over the past century, due in part to competition for food with commercial fisheries, and the species is now endangered as a result. Economic arguments are used to favour fisheries over the needs of penguins, but penguins have direct value to the South African economy thanks to penguin-based tourism at several breeding colonies. We estimated the value of African penguins at the most important tourist site for African penguins: Boulders on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. As a mainland colony close to Cape Town, Boulders is accessible to large numbers of visitors; gate revenues in 2009/2010 alone were R14.5 million (US$2 million). A zonal travel-cost analysis revealed an average consumer surplus among Cape Town residents of some R20 per visit. Penguin-based tourism thus forms an integral part of the R25 billion Western Cape tourism sector. Given that the future survival of this valuable resource is dependent, among others, ...

In any consideration of the effect of an increase in the intensity of light on the visibility of objects the following principles should be borne in mind. Roughly speaking, objects are seen because of their size and their difference from the background. With a given physical difference from the background, i. e., a given difference in the coefficient of reflection, the apparent or sensation difference increases rapidly with an increase in the intensity of light. This difference is greater in the case of white on black or light objects on a dark background than for black on white or dark objects on a light background. Whether there is also an effect on the apparent size of the object has not yet been fully determined. It is well known that an increase in the size of the object functions in some unknown relation as an increase of brightness, but the converse

A continuing study of ships bridge design and ship control conducted by the defence research board of Canada has recognized that the conventional method of issuing and executing verbal orders contains inherent delay and is a possible source of error in ship control. As a partial solution to this problem, it was proposed that the officer originating decisions to change the course and speed should implement these decisions himself through the direct control of helm and engines on the bridge. A television camera positioned on a suitably high structure, providing an image of the ship and the surrounding water, would improve visibility from the conning position. A sea trial, described in the present report, was therefore conducted to explore some of the advantages of using television displays to some the critical areas about the vessel which are otherwise blind. Systematic observations were made aboard a Canadian Coast Guard vessel with and without closed-circuit television. The primary areas of interest, in order of importance, were: use of the television as a visual aid in controlling the ship from the centre-line/ use of the television system as the only visual means of ship control, i.e. blind ship control/determination of operator difficulties in the interpretation of the television display/ possible applications of television to the duties of Coast Guard vessels, especially ice-breaking and buoy tending/ optimum arrangement and location of the television cameras and ancillary equipment, e.g. pan and tilt mechanism.

This study, using CH112 light helicopters and experienced pilots, was aimed toward answering two questions. Can the Army helicopter pilot navigate and simultaneously fly very low when, without the ...