16,633 research outputs found
Carfentrazone-ethyl Pond Dissipation and Efficacy on Floating Plants
Carfentrazone-ethyl (CE) is a reduced risk herbicide that
is currently being evaluated for the control of aquatic weeds.
Greenhouse trials were conducted to determine efficacy of
CE on water hyacinth (
Eichhornia crassipes
(Mart.) Solms-
Laub.), water lettuce (
Pistia stratiotes
L.), salvinia (
Salvinia
minima
Baker) and landoltia
(Landoltia punctata
(G. Mey.)
Les & D. J. Crawford
)
. CE controlled water lettuce, water hyacinth
and salvinia at rates less than the maximum proposed
use rate of 224 g ha
-1
. Water lettuce was the most susceptible
to CE with an EC
90
of 26.9 and 33.0 g ha
-1
in two separate trials.
Water hyacinth EC
90
values were calculated to be 86.2 to
116.3 g ha
-1
, and salvinia had a similar susceptibility to water
hyacinth with an EC
90
of 79.1 g ha
-1
. Landoltia was not adequately
controlled at the rates evaluated. In addition, CE was
applied to one-half of a 0.08 ha pond located in North Central,
Florida to determine dissipation rates in water and hydrosoil
when applied at an equivalent rate of 224 g ha
-1
. The
half-life of CE plus the primary metabolite, CE-chloropropionic
acid, was calculated to be 83.0 h from the whole pond,
and no residues were detected in water above the limit of
quantification (5 ÎŒg L
-1
) 168 h after treatment. CE dissipated
rapidly from the water column, did not occur in the sediment
above the levels of quantification, and in greenhouse
studies effectively controlled three species of aquatic weeds
at relatively low rates.(PDF contains 6 pages.
Theism and Psychological Science: A Call for Rapprochement
The authors offer two arguments for the inclusion of theism in natural science. First, an argument against excluding theism is offered. Though early roots of science promoted a view that it is a way to accumulate knowledge that is untainted by presuppositions and traditions, postmodern critiques call this into question. Scientists have sometimes rejected religion as a context-dependent, tradition-based way of knowing, yet science itself is also context-dependent and tradition-based. Second, an argument for including theism in psychological is offered. Theistic beliefs are relevant insofar as they are part of human experience for many, they represent a form of human diversity, and they have been associated with some positive health outcomes
Automatic analysis of Swift-XRT data
The Swift spacecraft detects and autonomously observes ~100 Gamma Ray Bursts
(GRBs) per year, ~96% of which are detected by the X-ray telescope (XRT). GRBs
are accompanied by optical transients and the field of ground-based follow-up
of GRBs has expanded significantly over the last few years, with rapid response
instruments capable of responding to Swift triggers on timescales of minutes.
To make the most efficient use of limited telescope time, follow-up astronomers
need accurate positions of GRBs as soon as possible after the trigger.
Additionally, information such as the X-ray light curve, is of interest when
considering observing strategy. The Swift team at Leicester University have
developed techniques to improve the accuracy of the GRB positions available
from the XRT, and to produce science-grade X-ray light curves of GRBs. These
techniques are fully automated, and are executed as soon as data are available.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of ADASS XVII (ASP
Conference Series
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Development and validation of a new glaucoma screening test using temporally modulated flicker
Purpose
Describing the psychometric characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of the Accelerator 4âAlternative ForcedâChoice Flicker Test prototype (A4FTp) for detecting chronic open angle glaucoma (COAG).
Methods
A4FTp measures temporallyâmodulated flicker thresholds in regions of the visual field with high susceptibility to glaucomatous loss. We initially evaluated its psychometric properties on 20 normals (aged 33.8 ± 8.5 years) who were tested multiple times over a period of 3 months. All subjects underwent four repetitions for shorter (T8) and longer (T12) staircase termination criteria, to determine the most suitable threshold criterion. Four randomly selected subjects underwent a total of 10 repetitions to study testâretest repeatability and learning effects. To determine its diagnostic accuracy, one eye of 40 participants with COAG and 38 normal controls were tested with the A4FTp in comparison with the Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT; C20â5 programme) and iVue Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDâOCT). Tests were conducted in a random order with results masked to the clinician conducting the reference ophthalmic examination. The accuracy of each test was determined by analysis of the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC).
Results
A4FTp flicker thresholds were stable, with standard deviations of only 0.52 decilog (dL) for T8, increasing to 1.32 dL for T12, and no significant flicker sensitivity threshold improvement over the 10 repeat runs. T8 was superior to T12 on several other measures, so it was used for the remaining comparisons. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, the mean AUROC for the three tests were A4FTp [T8 criterion; 0.82, 95% confidence interval (0.73â0.92)]; SDâOCT [any RNFL parameter p < 1% level; 0.90 (0.83â0.97)]; and FDT [one or more locations missed at p < 5% level; 0.91 (0.82â0.96)]. There was no statistical difference in AUROC between A4FTp and SDâOCT (p = 0.18) or FDT (p = 0.12). The A4FTp test duration averaged just over 2 min per eye, taking approximately oneâthird of the time for completion of the HFA SITA 24â2 algorithm (conducted as part of the reference examination) and twice the time for the suprathreshold FDT.
Conclusion
Test accuracy for the A4FTp was comparable to those of the FDT and SDâOCT for the detection of COAG. Time taken to complete the A4FTp was relatively short and initial results are promising. With further refinement, the A4FTp could have a future role in glaucoma detection
Alternative derivation of the relativistic contribution to perihelic precession
An alternative derivation of the first-order relativistic contribution to
perihelic precession is presented. Orbital motion in the Schwarzschild geometry
is considered in the Keplerian limit, and the orbit equation is derived for
approximately elliptical motion. The method of solution makes use of coordinate
transformations and the correspondence principle, rather than the standard
perturbative approach. The form of the resulting orbit equation is similar to
that derived from Newtonian mechanics and includes first-order corrections to
Kepler's orbits due to general relativity. The associated relativistic
contribution to perihelic precession agrees with established first-order
results. The reduced radius for the circular orbit is in agreement to
first-order with that calculated from the Schwarzschild effective potential.
The method of solution is understandable by undergraduate students.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in the American Journal
of Physic
SOUSA: the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive
The Ultra-Violet Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft has observed
hundreds of supernovae, covering all major types and most subtypes. Here we
introduce the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive (SOUSA), which will
contain all of the supernova images and photometry. We describe the observation
and reduction procedures and how they impact the final data. We show photometry
from well-observed examples of most supernova classes, whose absolute
magnitudes and colors may be used to infer supernova types in the absence of a
spectrum. A full understanding of the variety within classes and a robust
photometric separation of the groups requires a larger sample, which will be
provided by the final archive. The data from the existing Swift supernovae are
also useful for planning future observations with Swift as well as future UV
observatories.Comment: Accepted for publication in the UV issue of Astrophysics and Space
Science 10 pages, 6 figures SOUSA is an archive in progress with data being
posted to the Swift SN website:
http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/sne/swift_sn.htm
Earthshine as an Illumination Source at the Moon
Earthshine is the dominant source of natural illumination on the surface of
the Moon during lunar night, and at locations within permanently shadowed
regions that never receive direct sunlight. As such, earthshine may enable the
exploration of areas of the Moon that are hidden from solar illumination. The
heat flux from earthshine may also influence the transport and cold trapping of
volatiles present in the very coldest areas. In this study, Earth's spectral
radiance at the Moon is examined using a suite of Earth spectral models created
using the Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL) three dimensional modeling
capability. At the Moon, the broadband, hemispherical irradiance from Earth
near 0 phase is approximately 0.15 watts per square meter, with comparable
contributions from solar reflectance and thermal emission. Over the simulation
timeframe, spanning two lunations, Earth's thermal irradiance changes less than
a few mW per square meter as a result of cloud variability and the
south-to-north motion of sub-observer position. In solar band, Earth's
diurnally averaged light curve at phase angles < 60 degrees is well fit using a
Henyey Greenstein integral phase function. At wavelengths > 0.7 microns, near
the well known vegetation "red edge", Earth's reflected solar radiance shows
significant diurnal modulation as a result of the longitudinal asymmetry in
projected landmass, as well as from the distribution of clouds. A simple
formulation with adjustable coefficients is presented for estimating Earth's
hemispherical irradiance at the Moon as a function of wavelength, phase angle
and sub-observer coordinates. It is demonstrated that earthshine is
sufficiently bright to serve as a natural illumination source for optical
measurements from the lunar surface.Comment: 27 pages, 15 figures, 1 tabl
Urban grasslands support threatened water voles
Urbanisation is often linked with habitat loss and a reduction in species richness but some species may be able to adapt to urban environments. Water voles Arvicola amphibius, a rapidly declining species in the UK, have recently been recorded in isolated grassland habitats in Glasgow, Scotlandâs largest city (human population 1.2 million). The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and habitat characteristics of water vole populations occupying these dry grasslands. Field work was undertaken from March to October 2014 in a 34âkm2 study area located 3âkm east of the city centre. Field sign transects recorded water vole presence in 21/65 (32%) and 19/62 (31%) surveyed sites in spring and autumn, respectively. Vole occupancy increased with distance from water and was greatest in parkland, followed by sites with rank vegetation and roadside habitats. Occupancy was lower where signs of predators were recorded but surprisingly occupancy was found to be greater in the most disturbed sites, perhaps linked to the fact that many of these sites were public parks containing suitable grassland. Sites occupied by water voles were classed as neutral grasslands with species composition dominated by two main species. The number of grassland sites occupied by water voles, especially within public areas suggests that careful management of these urban grassland habitats will benefit the conservation of this highly threatened species in the UK
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