We describe the design and deployment of GREENBURST, a commensal Fast Radio Burst (FRB) search system at the Green Bank Telescope. GREENBURST uses the dedicated L-band receiver tap to search over the 960–1 920 MHz frequency range for pulses with dispersion measures out to $10^4\ \rm{pc\,cm}^{-3}$ . Due to its unique design, GREENBURST is capable of conducting searches for FRBs when the L-band receiver is not being used for scheduled observing. This makes it a sensitive single pixel detector capable of reaching deeper in the radio sky. While single pulses from Galactic pulsars and rotating radio transients will be detectable in our observations, and will form part of the database we archive, the primary goal is to detect and study FRBs. Based on recent determinations of the all-sky rate, we predict that the system will detect approximately one FRB for every 2–3 months of continuous operation. The high sensitivity of GREENBURST means that it will also be able to probe the slope of the FRB fluence distribution, which is currently uncertain in this observing band.

Existing theories of X-ray absorption-edge fine structure do not adequately explain details of spectra observed for solids. However, the possibility that X-ray absorption spectra might eventually be used as tools for the characterizatiori of new insulator materials has prompted the study of an extensive selection of simple oxides of known chemistry and structure. The complete K absorption fine structure has been measured for some forty simple oxides of six elements of the fourth period. The L absorption-edge spectra have been measured for metallic lead and several lead oxides. The several isostructurat and polymorphic sets included among these oxides, as well as the Magnéli phases for three of the elements, have made it possible to study the effects of valence, coordination number, electron configuration, and crystal structure. The applicability of current theories of the fine structures are discussed in the light of these findings. An automated single-crystal spectrometer is described.

The study of cultural stability requires a knowledge of cultural development over a reasonably long span of time. The definition of this time perspective is one of the major contributions of archaeology to the study of culture. The archaeologist therefore should be in a position to make a significant contribution to the appraisal of the stability problem itself. However, the lack of a commonly accepted anthropological definition of the concept of cultural stability imposes semantic difficulties which hinder the determination of practical limits for the stability- instability problem area. Moreover, the nature of the data available to the archaeologist conditions the kind of contribution he can make.

The discovery of the first electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave signal has generated follow-up observations by over 50 facilities world-wide, ushering in the new era of multi-messenger astronomy. In this paper, we present follow-up observations of the gravitational wave event GW170817 and its electromagnetic counterpart SSS17a/DLT17ck (IAU label AT2017gfo) by 14 Australian telescopes and partner observatories as part of Australian-based and Australian-led research programs. We report early- to late-time multi-wavelength observations, including optical imaging and spectroscopy, mid-infrared imaging, radio imaging, and searches for fast radio bursts. Our optical spectra reveal that the transient source emission cooled from approximately 6 400 K to 2 100 K over a 7-d period and produced no significant optical emission lines. The spectral profiles, cooling rate, and photometric light curves are consistent with the expected outburst and subsequent processes of a binary neutron star merger. Star formation in the host galaxy probably ceased at least a Gyr ago, although there is evidence for a galaxy merger. Binary pulsars with short (100 Myr) decay times are therefore unlikely progenitors, but pulsars like PSR B1534+12 with its 2.7 Gyr coalescence time could produce such a merger. The displacement (~2.2 kpc) of the binary star system from the centre of the main galaxy is not unusual for stars in the host galaxy or stars originating in the merging galaxy, and therefore any constraints on the kick velocity imparted to the progenitor are poor.

Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H202), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of δD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal SD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H2O2, non-sea-salt (nss) SO4 2-, methanesulfonic acid and NO3-) show coeval peaks with SD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa2+ nss Mg2+), NH4 + or nssCl-. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (>5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to interpret. A multi-parameter approach is found to provide the most accurate dating of these snow-pit records, and is used to determine annual layer thicknesses at each site Significant spatial accumulation variability exists on an annual basis, but mean accumulation in the sampled 10 km2 grid for the 1988-94 period is fairly uniform.

This study examined whether the association between age and amygdala–medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) connectivity in typically developing 6- to 10-year-old children is correlated with parental care. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 124 children of the Generation R Study who at 4 years old had been observed interacting with their parents to assess maternal and paternal sensitivity. Amygdala functional connectivity was assessed using a general linear model with the amygdalae time series as explanatory variables. Higher level analyses assessing Sensitivity × Age as well as exploratory Sensitivity × Age × Gender interaction effects were performed restricted to voxels in the mPFC. We found significant Sensitivity × Age interaction effects on amygdala–mPFC connectivity. Age was related to stronger amygdala–mPFC connectivity in children with a lower combined parental sensitivity score (b = 0.11, p = .004, b = 0.06, p = .06, right and left amygdala, respectively), but not in children with a higher parental sensitivity score, (b = –0.07, p = .12, b = –0.06, p = .12, right and left amygdala, respectively). A similar effect was found for maternal sensitivity, with stronger amygdala–mPFC connectivity in children with less sensitive mothers. Exploratory (parental, maternal, paternal) Sensitivity × Age × Gender interaction analyses suggested that this effect was especially pronounced in girls. Amygdala-mPFC resting-state functional connectivity has been shown to increase from age 10.5 years onward, implying that the positive association between age and amygdala–mPFC connectivity in 6- to 10-year-old children of less sensitive parents represents accelerated development of the amygdala–mPFC circuit.

We describe the performance of the Boolardy Engineering Test Array, the prototype for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope. Boolardy Engineering Test Array is the first aperture synthesis radio telescope to use phased array feed technology, giving it the ability to electronically form up to nine dual-polarisation beams. We report the methods developed for forming and measuring the beams, and the adaptations that have been made to the traditional calibration and imaging procedures in order to allow BETA to function as a multi-beam aperture synthesis telescope. We describe the commissioning of the instrument and present details of Boolardy Engineering Test Array’s performance: sensitivity, beam characteristics, polarimetric properties, and image quality. We summarise the astronomical science that it has produced and draw lessons from operating Boolardy Engineering Test Array that will be relevant to the commissioning and operation of the final Australian Square Kilometre Array Path telescope.

The Southern Hemisphere VLBI Experiment (SHEVE) program is aimed at producing high-resolution images of southern radio sources. The radio telescopes of the present SHEVE array are described below and some recent results presented.

Many species of scleractinian reef corals deposit aragonite skeletons with cyclic bands of higher and lower density whose periodicity is annual. As these growth bands are frequently preserved in fossil corals, attention has been focused on their possible use as environmental indicators in as much as density variations may reflect changes in water temperature and/or light intensity. Relationships between skeletal growth banding and environmental parameters have been investigated by X-radiographic examination of 1488 specimens of modern reef corals representing 31 reef localities widely distributed over the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions. Average monthly seawater temperature and solar radiation data are available for each locality, and the date of collection is known for each sample. Of the 47 genera and subgenera included in the study, density variations were most pronounced in skeletons of Astreopora, Coscinarea, Cyphastrea, Favia (especially species with small corallites such as F. stelligera), Goniastrea, Hydnophora (massive forms only, e.g. M. microconos), Leptoria, Montastrea (especially M. annularis, with small corallites), Pavona, Polyastra, and Plesiastrea. Less useful are Diploastrea, Diploria, and Favites (which tend to have large corallite diameters), and Goniopora, Alveopora, Porites, Siderastrea, and Stephanaria (which frequently exhibit numerous secondary density variations within the annual cycle). Despite considerable variability among different individual corals from the same population, the average thickness of the skeletal growth bands is positively correlated with mean annual water temperature. By comparing characteristics of the outermost growth increment and the date of collection with monthly records of water temperature and solar radiation, it appears that maximum skeletal density is associated with those periods of the year when seawater temperature is above average.

This is the second of a series of papers presenting detailed optical spectra for QSOs and strong-emission-line galaxies identified with radio sources from a selected area (−15° to −23° in declination) of the Molonglo Reference Catalogue (MRC: Large et al. 1981). The catalogue is complete to 1 Jy at 408 MHz although it contains many weaker sources. First results were reported by Hunstead et al. (1978, Paper I) and a summary was given by Hunstead (1979). Results have also been given by White et al. (1980) for spectra of QSOs identified with radio sources to a much deeper level of 88 mJy from a small strip within the larger selected area.

We obtained simultaneous images of solar plage on 7 May 1991 with Goddard Space Flight Center’s Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS), the Very Large Array (VLA), and the NASA/NSO spectromagnetograph at Kitt Peak. Using intensity ratios of Fe XVI to Fe XV emission lines, we find that the coronal plasma temperature is 2.5 ± 0.3 ×lO6 K throughout the region. The column emission measure ranges from 2.6 × 1027 to 1.3 × 1028 cm−5. The calculated structure and intensity of the 20 cm wavelength thermal bremsstrahlung emission from the hot plasma observed by SERTS is quite similar to the observed structure and intensity of the 20 cm microwave emission observed by the VLA. Using the revised coronal iron abundance of Meyer (1991, 1992), we find no evidence for either cool absorbing plasma or for contributions from thermal gyroemission. Combining the observed microwave polarization and the SERTS plasma parameters, we calculate a map of the coronal longitudinal magnetic field. The resulting values, ~ 30 – 60 Gauss, are comparable to extrapolated values of the potential field at heights of 5,000 and 10,000 km.

Objectives: Decrements in cognitive function may already be evident in young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here we report prospectively acquired cognitive results over 18 months in a large cohort of young children with and without T1D. Methods: A total of 144 children with T1D (mean HbA1c: 7.9%) and 70 age-matched healthy controls (mean age both groups 8.5 years; median diabetes duration 3.9 years; mean age of onset 4.1 years) underwent neuropsychological testing at baseline and after 18-months of follow-up. We hypothesized that group differences observed at baseline would be more pronounced after 18 months, particularly in those T1D patients with greatest exposure to glycemic extremes. Results: Cognitive domain scores did not differ between groups at the 18 month testing session and did not change differently between groups over the follow-up period. However, within the T1D group, a history of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was correlated with lower Verbal IQ and greater hyperglycemia exposure (HbA1c area under the curve) was inversely correlated to executive functions test performance. In addition, those with a history of both types of exposure performed most poorly on measures of executive function. Conclusions: The subtle cognitive differences between T1D children and nondiabetic controls observed at baseline were not observed 18 months later. Within the T1D group, as at baseline, relationships between cognition (Verbal IQ and executive functions) and glycemic variables (chronic hyperglycemia and DKA history) were evident. Continued longitudinal study of this T1D cohort and their carefully matched healthy comparison group is planned. (JINS, 2016, 21, 293–302)