Balmer Line Variations in the Radio-Loud AGN PG 1512+370

We present spectroscopic observations of the quasar PG~1512+370, covering the Hbeta line spectral range and collected at moderate resolution (2-7 A FWHM) from 1988 to 1996. The observations show that the blue wing of the Hbeta broad profile component has changed significantly in flux and shape between 1988 and 1990 and between 1995 and 1996. A displaced blue peak on the Hbeta profile, visible in 1988, but not in the 1990-1995 spectra, is revealed again in one of the spectra obtained in 1996. The blue peak (in both the 1988 and 1996 spectra) is centered at Delta v_r ~ -3000 +/- 500 km/s from the rest frame defined by the narrow component of Hbeta, and the OIII lambda4959,5007 lines. We discuss several conflicting interpretations of the data. We find that the variability of the Hbeta blue wing is consistent with Balmer line emission from regions whose motion is predominantly radial, if variations of the blue wing are a response to continuum changes. Alternatively, we note that observed Hbeta line profile variations are consistent with a variable line component as in a ``binary black hole'' scenario. More frequent observations of Hbeta are needed to distinguish among these hypotheses.Comment: 19 pages, 1 embedded figure (eps), to appear in ApJ 49

Acoustic Measurements at the Rock Painting of Värikallio, Northern Finland

In Northern Finland, by the rock painting of Värikallio (ca. 3000–500 BC), several echoes can be heard. The most remarkable of these appear to be originating from the painted rock itself. The article presents the first results of the research project that seeks to explore the role of sound in the development and use of Finnish rock art and Sámi offering sites. Field recordings, made at the site of Värikallio in summer 2013, are analyzed with a sound analysis and visualization toolkit, and interpreted with the help of GIS data and a 3D model of the site. A probable depiction of a drummer, identified in the painting in the course of the fieldwork, provides a further clue to the significance of sound rituals at rock paintings.Non peer reviewe

Estimation of a regression spline sample selection model

It is often the case that an outcome of interest is observed for a restricted non-randomly selected sample of the population. In such a situation, standard statistical analysis yields biased results. This issue can be addressed using sample selection models which are based on the estimation of two regressions: a binary selection equation determining whether a particular statistical unit will be available in the outcome equation. Classic sample selection models assume a priori that continuous regressors have a pre-specified linear or non-linear relationship to the outcome, which can lead to erroneous conclusions. In the case of continuous response, methods in which covariate effects are modeled flexibly have been previously proposed, the most recent being based on a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. A frequentist counterpart which has the advantage of being computationally fast is introduced. The proposed algorithm is based on the penalized likelihood estimation framework. The construction of confidence intervals is also discussed. The empirical properties of the existing and proposed methods are studied through a simulation study. The approaches are finally illustrated by analyzing data from the RAND Health Insurance Experiment on annual health expenditures

Paisaje y Arqueología

El presente volumen de la revista Anuario de Arqueología reúne un conjunto de conferencias y trabajos presentados en el simposio “Paisajes arqueológicos del Holoceno Tardío: interacciones entre seres humanos y entornos, 3000-500 AP”, que se desarrolló en la ciudad de Rosario los días 17 y 18 de mayo de 2012 en Rosario, organizado por el Departamento de Arqueología (Escuela de Antropología, Facultad de Humanidades y Artes, Universidad Nacional de Rosario). Dicho simposio buscó servir de marco de encuentro para que investigadores de diversas áreas y temáticas confluyeran para mostrar la forma en que están abordando la cuestión de la relación e interacciones que se establecen entre los seres humanos y los entornos, tanto naturales como sociales, en que desarrollan sus vidas.Fil: Leoni, Juan Bautista. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Arqueología; Argentin

“They Enjoy Syrup and Ghee at Tables of Silver and Gold”: Infant Loss in Ancient Mesopotamia

The present study draws on interdisciplinary research to establish an interpretative framework for an analysis of the material and textual evidence concerning infant loss in ancient Mesopotamia (c. 3000-500 BCE). This approach rejects the notion that highinfant mortality rates result in widespread parental indifference to infant loss, arguing instead that underlying biological and transcultural realities inform human responses to this phenomenon. With this conclusion in mind, a review of ancient Mesopotamian archaeological evidence reveals patterns of differential infant burial; while the interpretation of these patterns is uncertain, the broader contexts of infant burials in ancient Mesopotamia do not point to parental indifference, but rather the opposite. The available textual evidence in turn indicates that ancient Mesopotamians valued their infants, sought actively to protect them from harm, and mourned deeply when they died, a conclusion that is not controverted by evidence of infant exposure

El poblament prehistòric del paratge de Can Gambús-1: l’evolució dels assentaments agrícoles des del neolític final fins a l’edat del ferro (3000-500 cal. aC)

El paratge arqueològic de Can Gambús-1, amb una superfície de més de trenta hectàrees excavades en extensió i en laseva totalitat entre els anys 2003-2006, consta de quasi un miler d’estructures. Entre el conjunt d’ocupacions detectadess’identifiquen quatre grans fases o períodes cronològics successius que s’enquadren entre el 3000 i el 500 cal. aC. En primerlloc, tenim un important assentament del neolític final amb presència de cabanes, sitges i estructures de combustió,juntament amb un extens registre de material arqueològic característic d’un poblat estable. En segon lloc, es documentaun assentament del bronze inicial, també amb cabanes, sitges i amb l’existència d’estructures funeràries complexes deltipus hipogeu d’inhumació múltiple successiva. Atribuïbles al bronze final tenim un conjunt d’estructures agrupades almig de la carena, amb diverses estructures complexes del tipus fons de cabana, sitges i un canal antròpic associat. Finalment,s’identifiquen dos assentaments aglomerats de tipus agrícola amb sitges de la primera edat del ferro

A 125 GeV SM-like Higgs in the MSSM and the γγ\gamma \gamma rate

We consider the possibility of a Standard Model (SM)-like Higgs in the context of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), with a mass of about 125 GeV and with a production times decay rate into two photons which is similar or somewhat larger than the SM one. The relatively large value of the SM-like Higgs mass demands stops in the several hundred GeV mass range with somewhat large mixing, or a large hierarchy between the two stop masses in the case that one of the two stops is light. We find that, in general, if the heaviest stop mass is smaller than a few TeV, the rate of gluon fusion production of Higgs bosons decaying into two photons tends to be somewhat suppressed with respect to the SM one in this region of parameters. However, we show that an enhancement of the photon decay rate may be obtained for light third generation sleptons with large mixing, which can be naturally obtained for large values of $\tan\beta$ and sizable values of the Higgsino mass parameter.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. Corrected small typos and added reference